New Trainee-ship Programme at ISD Solutions

We’re excited to welcome Piers Fortey as our first Trainee Project Manager, part of our new Traineeship Programme. Piers joins us with great enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn, and we’re eager to support his development as he embarks on this journey.

Over the course of his traineeship at ISD Solutions, Piers will gain hands-on experience across our Service, Retail, Fire, and Cold stores departments, rotating between them over the next two years. He will also attend college one day a week, working towards a Construction and the Built Environment HTQ Level 4 qualification.

We caught up with Piers in his first week, and here’s how it went:

How did you hear about the traineeship?

I got connected to ISD Solutions through a rugby link, actually. Ryan Meecham, the divisional director of Retail and Service, and I crossed paths at Longlevens RFC, where I play for the men’s team. During one of our chats after a game, we started discussing my interests and future ambitions, which led to the idea of a potential traineeship. That conversation opened the door to this amazing opportunity, and now here I am, ISD’s first Trainee Project Manager.

What made you want to take on the traineeship?

I’ve always been interested in becoming a quantity surveyor, and at first, I thought university was the obvious path, maybe studying business management to work towards that goal. But when this traineeship opportunity came along, it felt like a no-brainer. The chance to get real, hands-on experience in a paid job, learning from experts in the industry, while also earning a qualification – it just made more sense for me. The way the program is structured means I’ll get exposure to four different divisions in the business, spending six months in each, while also working closely with the Sustainability Manager and Health & Safety team, which is a huge learning opportunity.

What do you hope to get out of the traineeship?

By the end of it, I hope to be fully qualified and stay with the company as it continues to grow. I’m keen to take on bigger projects in the future. For example, I look at Adam Teague handling that massive Grantham project and it’s inspiring – I’d love to have that kind of responsibility someday, maybe even project managing cold stores. I’ve had experience in hospitality, so I’m comfortable communicating with people, and I’m looking forward to eventually being on-site, working directly with the team, and helping drive projects forward.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

As you can probably tell, I’m a big rugby fan. I used to play for the Gloucester Academy team, being brought up here in Gloucester, and internationally for the Ireland squad. I also come from a large family – I’m the oldest of five, so I’ve always had a lot of responsibility, helping take care of my younger siblings. That’s probably shaped me into someone who’s comfortable taking charge when needed.

How do you see yourself leading the way for future trainees?

I’d love to help guide future Trainee Project Managers and serve as a role model, especially since I’ve been through the same process. It’s inspiring to see ISD Solutions investing in young talent and fostering career growth. I hope to encourage both my generation and the next in taking advantage of these training schemes. This feels like an exciting time for the company, and I’m proud to be part of its growth.

What advice would you give to someone post 18?

For me, I’ve learned that networking can open doors. You never know when a conversation with the right person might lead to an opportunity. It’s also important to keep an open mind – don’t just focus on one path, like university. Do your research on the industry you’re interested in and explore all the ways you can reach your end goal. There are often more options out there than you think.

Welcome to the team, Piers – we can’t wait to see you grow and lead the way for future trainees at ISD!