National Apprenticeship Week 2022: Introducing Cindy Lai-chau

As a Digital Construction Coordinator, Cindy is upskilling through a Data Analytics apprenticeship.

Cindy graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a Masters in Building Information Modelling (BIM). She’s been at Sir Robert McAlpine for two years and is currently working on numerous projects to support our Northern business, including Belle Vue Academy in Manchester and Edinburgh Haymarket.

Her role involves helping to obtain and extract information from our design models and perform clash detections.

She develops site-wide logistics 3D models that include cabins and fencing barriers to help our wider project team better understand and visualise some of some of the project constraints that we may have on site. 

She also works together with the planners to develop a 4D model which is a simulation of the build sequence.

I'd like to encourage young women to enter construction as it's very exciting! When I was younger I was very much intimidated and tried to avoid working for large contractors. But there's nothing to be intimidated about whatsoever. I think the learning part is definitely being on site and actually looking at projects and looking at how our projects are built, which is definitely rewarding.

Cindy Lai-chau Digital Construction Coordinator

Cindy is currently undertaking the Data Analytics apprenticeship with us as she was interested to further understand the digital tools and processes that other industries have been using and, hopefully, with all the knowledge and skills that she gains from the apprenticeship, will improve the way she works.

The apprenticeship allows Cindy the opportunity to grow valuable new skills, including learning how to code, how to automate everyday processes, problem solving at hackathons and develop new apps.

Watch the video below to find out more about Cindy and her role at Sir Robert McAlpine.