To kick off National Careers Week, we’d like to shine a light on Josh Wilton, who swapped the scaffolding and rooftops for an office chair and a new career path.
Josh is Magna’s Resourcing Administrator, but his story starts a few years back. By his mid-20s, he’d completed his bricklaying apprenticeship and had a few years of hands-on experience under his belt but was made redundant in 2023 and decided it was time for a new direction.
Josh said:
“I lived in Magna homes until I was in my mid-twenties, so joining the team had a personal meaning to me too. I felt I already knew a bit about the culture, and it was somewhere I thought I could fit in.
“I joined the sustainability and investment team on an 18-month business administration apprenticeship. With the right support – special thanks to Ailsa Willis and Michael Upton, who helped me to navigate a tricky tutor situation – I passed it without too many worries.”
After completing his apprenticeship, Josh took an opportunity to join our people team and now plays a key part in supporting the team with recruitment by organising candidate interviews, making arrangements for new starters and managing the team’s email inbox.
He continued:
“No two days are the same and there’s always something going on. Most of my work is home based, but I go into the office when I can to catch up with colleagues face to face.
“I wasn’t the most confident when I first started doing an office job, but I quickly learned new skills and now I feel much more comfortable to chat with colleagues across the organisation. My apprenticeship helped me get there, and I’m pretty pleased with the progress I’ve made.”
Josh is one of many colleagues who joined Magna through the apprenticeship route, and we’ve got lots more apprentices working across the organisation right now – from electricians and plumbers to administration and IT systems.
When we asked Josh what he loves most and what’s next for him at Magna, here’s what he had to say:
“My team is really supportive, and they’re always willing to help – especially Dani Davies and Wendy Norman, who have been huge influences along the way. Dani’s a brilliant guiding manager, and Wendy has become a genuine friend. I feel totally supported, professional and personally, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop appreciating working in such a positive environment.
“I’m loving life at Magna, and I want to stay and grow here – potentially taking on a more senior role at some point. But, for now, I’m keen to get stuck into some of the projects we’ve got going on and keep building my experience. The stress that came with the career change has been absolutely worth it.”
Josh’s journey is a brilliant example of how careers don’t always run in straight lines – and sometimes the best opportunities can be ones you don’t expect!
