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26 August 2025
Investing in Future Talent: Strengthening the AV Industry from the Ground Up
At Carillion Communications, we believe that investing in the next generation of talent isn’t just good for the community, it’s essential for the future of the AV industry. By providing meaningful work experience placements, we offer young people hands-on exposure to real-world AV environments while helping to build a future workforce equipped with the technical and collaborative skills our sector demands.
This summer, we were pleased to welcome two students into our business: Millie from Cox Green School and Jacob from Furze Platt Senior School. Over three and five days, respectively, they explored multiple departments, including system design, technical support, project management, and engineering, gaining a first-hand understanding of how a commercial AV provider operates at scale.
For Millie, the placement was a chance to explore something different. With interests in art, geography and psychology, she was keen to explore a new sector beyond her usual café job. During her time, she observed how Carillion teams collaborate, shadowed technical calls and learned how AV technology is planned and deployed. While she concluded that technology might not be her natural path, she was captivated by people’s approach to problem-solving and the architectural and planning aspects of AV installation, ultimately confirming an interest in law or architecture, both career routes where problem-solving and spatial reasoning are vital.
Jacob, who has a strong interest in engineering, physics and hands-on work, chose Carillion because of his fascination with AV. Over five days, he dove into every area available, including shadowing helpdesk staff, exploring system design, connecting equipment and learning about site surveys and installation planning. He particularly enjoyed site visits, gaining a practical understanding of how physical environments impact AV integration, knowledge that mirrors real-world client scenarios. The experience reinforced his interest in technical roles and opened his eyes to a potential future in AV engineering or design, complementing his plans to pursue mechanical engineering or a degree apprenticeship.
Both students demonstrated curiosity, professionalism and a willingness to engage, a reflection of the kind of mindset we aim to cultivate through our talent pipeline. These placements are more than just observational; they are structured to offer holistic, practical experience that supports early career development.
As Dee Reed, our Managing Director, explains, “How you enter the workplace and find the right path is so important. A lot of people grow into jobs they happen to fall into. But if you get the chance to step back and explore what aligns with your strengths and interests, you’re more likely to thrive. That’s why we’re so passionate about offering work experience at Carillion.”
Beyond short-term placements, we also invest in emerging professionals through our associate programme.
“We run a dedicated associate programme here at Carillion,” adds Dee. “Recently, we welcomed four associates, three in installation engineering and one, Andrea, who relocated from Europe to join our commissioning team. He had never lived in the UK before, but has adapted brilliantly. The programme continues to grow, and it’s been rewarding to see these individuals develop into confident, capable engineers.”
Read more about Andrea’s journey.
We believe nurturing future talent isn’t just a community initiative; it’s a responsibility shared across the industry. If you’re a school, training provider or AV organisation interested in partnering with us to support the next generation of AV professionals, we’d love to hear from you.