Meet Aaron: From Bricklaying Apprentice to Site Manager
Aaron’s career in construction began nearly two decades ago when he started in the industry as an apprentice bricklayer. He brings 19 years of hands-on industry experience and a sharp eye for detail to the Gusto Construction Team. He thrives on daily problem-solving and is committed to ensuring every build meets our high standards of quality.
Aaron Farrell, Gusto Construction
Life as a Gusto Construction Site Manager
As the Site Manager for our latest development, The Old School Yard, Aaron oversees everything from daily health and safety to subcontractor scheduling. We caught up with him to find out what a day in the life of a Gusto Construction Site Manager looks like.
How long have you been in construction, and how did you get into it?
"19 years this year. From a young age, especially when I started at secondary school, I knew I wanted to be a bricklayer. From finishing school, I went to college to pursue that, then got an apprenticeship, and my career went from there. My apprenticeship was around five years long back then, too!"
What does your day-to-day role look like as a Site Manager?
"I’m usually first on-site to unlock the gates and get everything ready for the team. First thing, I check who is planning to be on site that day and ensure everyone is here. Then I’ll check my emails and get site inductions, briefings, or toolbox talks done first thing.
I notify the team about what deliveries are coming that day, let everyone get stuck into their work for an hour or so, and then I do my first walkaround. I check the safety aspect of everything and make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Usually, within that first hour, you get your first problems of the day that you must solve!
From mid-morning until the afternoon, I’m constantly booking in other trades, deliveries, and other bits like that with the odd meeting in between. Towards the afternoon, I monitor progress to see where everyone is at, which helps me plan what needs to be done the next day. Every time I walk around, I'm constantly looking at health and safety and just general organisation on site. At the end of the day, I review our progress and plan the work for the next day."
What's your favourite part of the job?
"I love the problem-solving and organisation of things. That’s definitely the biggest perk of the job for me. I also love to see the end product. Seeing the house built from the ground up and hearing how satisfied the customers are afterwards."
CGI of one of our homes at The Old School Yard, Collingham
How do you make sure the quality of the work on-site is always up to standard?
"Constant monitoring and picking up problems or snags as soon as possible. I check every day, and when a trade says they're finished, I go in and inspect it. If I'm not happy, we can get it sorted there and then. I have a good view of the entire site from up in the site cabin, too. On my general walkarounds, my eyes are always looking at health and safety and snagging. If something doesn't look right, we always get it sorted right away."
Is there a particular moment or project you are most proud of?
"It would be the moment I got my promotion from Assistant Site Manager to Site Manager. As for the project, I’m most proud of, it’s probably this current one, The Old School Yard, because it's my first one as the lead Site Manager."
Great progress is currently being made on-site at The Old School Yard
What made you want to work at Gusto Construction?
"After my interview, it was just the initial feel I got. It felt like I’d already been here for years. Everyone was so friendly and made me feel welcome, like I just fit straight in. Plus, Gusto Construction has a great reputation, so why wouldn't you want to be a part of that?"
The Gusto Construction Team
Aaron’s 19-year progression from an apprentice bricklayer to a lead Site Manager is exactly the kind of hands-on experience that keeps Gusto Construction running smoothly and safely.
Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn.
To find out more about the rest of the Gusto Construction team, take a look at our Meet the Team page.
We’re also always open to hearing from experienced professionals looking for their next role in construction. You can find out more on our Careers page.
