Apprentices on parade: Jacob Heavens of Willmott Dixon
10 February 2026
Apprentices on parade: Matthew McCourt of Okana
11 February 2026
In the third of our Q&As to mark National Apprenticeship Week, Matthew McCourt takes his turn in the limelight. He is due to complete his PlanBEE apprenticeship in summer 2027 and is currently on rotation with Okana. He wants to share industry best practice in the future, he reveals.
What was it that first attracted you to digital construction?
I was first attracted to digital construction because it’s paving the way for the future of construction, and getting involved in that aspect of the sector at this stage will put me in an excellent place as the construction industry develops in terms of knowledge and experience. I was also drawn to this due to the wide range of work that can be done as part of digital construction.
How did you find out about the apprenticeship at Okana?
I am part of the PlanBEE apprenticeship scheme, which places you at six different companies focusing on different areas of the construction process. I found out about this through knowing a few people who completed it in previous years.
Tell us about the project or tasks you’re working on at the moment
I am currently working on three quite different projects. The two main projects are an airport in Saudi Arabia and a more local office building, as well as doing the Cat B fit-out for another local project. I have mainly been focusing on the clash detection side of these projects, and I have just presented my clashes in a meeting with the client and contractors. However, I have also been attending project meetings and started briefly looking at auditing and have been introduced to COBie.
What has been the most challenging part of your apprenticeship so far?
Maintaining a work-life balance. While balancing work and college assignments, it can be tricky to have time for hobbies and spending time with the important people in my life. I am now learning methods to focus more and get work accomplished quicker and to a higher standard, while making time for my brain to wind down.
Do you see yourself staying in digital construction? How would you like your career to progress?
I can see myself pursuing a career in digital construction. The work keeps you constantly engaged and communicating with clients and other contractors. As well as this, I enjoy that the team is so diverse and connects people from all over the world.
I would like my career to progress to possibly managing projects or taking up a leadership position in the future, or delivering presentations to other companies showing the innovations and best ways to integrate digital construction processes into their practices.
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