Across every day at Limeslade, I was in awe. From the ingenuity that runs through their online campaigns and business development to the ability to trust them as reliable and driven corporate partners, their versatility is praiseworthy. As an A-Level student who aspires to pursue a career in Law, I am so glad that I chose them as my guide to the impressive lifestyle of marketing the legal and construction sectors.
Four days of work experience has led to this article. Here are the main events and top takeaways from my time at Limeslade.
DAY 1
When I first walked into Limeslade, I already sensed a welcoming and collaborative community created by Stuart, Annie, Kay, and Sarah. My first job of the day was to draft LinkedIn posts for Limeslade and other clients using Buffer. While creating the drafts, I realised how much critical thinking is needed when considering the professional demographic on LinkedIn. This applies even in the most minor details, like directly addressing the reader and keeping that opening sentence punchy. In addition, I managed billable hours and office activity via a timesheet software, Toggl. Online communication to our team was done using Slack.
Building Concepts I Found Out:
- Construction disputes are often focused around 3 types of error margins, Delay (Timing/Deadlines), Quantum (Financial Disruptions), and Technical Issues (practical faults).
- There are two main contract types: JCT contracts – which is perhaps more traditional. NEC contracts which are often used more on large engineering and government projects.
- Limeslade is a B2B Company, meaning they support public or professional services rather than individual consumers.
I found Day 1 to be a perfect starting point that gave me a look at how the heart of our construction business flows with such dedication and a fantastic way to develop my soft skills.
DAY 2
Within Day 2, we explored beyond the office and witnessed the redevelopment of one of London’s largest department stores, Barkers of Kensington, courtesy of Civic Engineers and McLaren. This visit proved that flexibility is vital when following the client’s instructions along with navigating the project’s difficulties, because it proves you are a trustworthy resource for both sides of the situation. An example of this is a process called “benchmarking”, where the client reviews the progress and materials, then explains their criticisms and next steps. When we arrived, the team were preparing for their next benchmark in the upcoming days.
So, how do you balance the inclusion of modern advancements whilst keeping the core 1930s design of a Grade II Listed Public Site?
The answer was this:
- New and sustainable façades were added to mimic the Art Deco style on the outside, as any major changes to the public eye would defeat the intent of admiring its heritage. The interior would have the most alterations.
- Inside the removal of concrete-encased pillars are to be replaced by a steel ‘picture frame’ structure that held the weight of the whole project without attachment to other support systems. This was so there would be a large open floor space.
Seeing the teamwork and problem-solving in the creation of elaborate projects like Barkers of Kensington was phenomenal. It made me appreciate the vital actions managed by contractors and subcontractors that directly support the bigger picture.
DAY 3
It’s from here we began to lean into the legal network Limeslade work with. At the start of Day 3, I met Tegan Johnson, a Construction solicitor from Charles Russell Speechlys, who qualified via a degree apprenticeship. What I found out thanks to Tegan:
- The range of paths an apprenticeship includes, with the freedom to rotate sectors yearly or specialise in a practice area.
- Apprenticeships raise your certainty in quick-thinking situations prior to qualification, as you would have faced complex cases through your training.
- The process of adjudication, which is a method of resolving a dispute without entering the courtroom (which is referred to as interim binding). This can act as a quick and efficient alternative to litigation.
I’ve always wanted to take a more hands-on approach towards becoming a solicitor, so this personal recount from Tegan was really helpful and solidified my fondness for this post-18 option.
Afterwards, Stuart took me on a tour of the Inns of Court and the Royal Court of Justice. This completely shattered the TV myths that present the court as a dramatic battle. The truth is that serving justice is composed and shows a lot of respect between barristers and judges, each portraying the opposing evidence in an orderly way. It was also fascinating to see how barristers are positioned into collective inns depending on their area of expertise, maximising the collaboration that takes place beyond the court cases on an equal level of intelligence.
DAY 4
The first section of Day 4 was refining a clients podcast series to remove hesitation and unnecessary footage, so the listener stays engaged with the key information. Instantly, it becomes clear that patience is required for all tasks in the office space, because one slight fault could destroy the hard work accomplished beforehand.
Day 4’s main event was attending the Wimbledon networking event at 39 Essex Chambers with Sarah and Annie. Limeslade have hosted over the years multiple industry summits like these, therefore they’re renowned for their ability to produce strong ties with multi award-winning firms and independent businesses alike.
My top tips from the day:
- Get yourself out there = Being on the sideline will never lead to development. Gathering the confidence to approach new people, shows to other people that you are enthusiastic and willing to thrive, just like them.
- Expand your emotional intelligence = The prospect of appealing to a diverse group does appear intimidating, but you must consider 3 things: compassion, active listening and self-awareness. Through these, the bond between one another becomes more personal, which can often trigger the start of new opportunities.
This was an excellent conclusion to an informative week, highlighting how to administer your company’s exposure within the industry to enhance its positive reputation.
Conclusion
One company, four days and loads of new memories. A massive thank you to the team at Limeslade for giving me this opportunity; the past week has been extremely insightful and has strengthened my personal abilities Such as my critical thinking and attention to detail, for the future. Now, if you’ve been worrying about entering the world of work, take a deep breath, consider my key points of reflection and make that first step. You will not regret it!
By Ruby Spooner