How I got into Construction - My Story Pt 1

[@paulf2529]

I have always loved machinery and ended up working on a farm weekends whilst at school and part time after. I then did different jobs, including a stint for a forestry firm, before going into horticulture. I went self-employed and built things up specialising in big gardens. These days, i run the gardens and landscaping full time self employed for a large estate literally a bit of everything. Naturally, i do my own machine work. When you're following on with the turfing or footings with responsibility for the entire job, you soon realise the need for accuracy and get quick and accurate fast. literally working an hour later into the evening on the machine can save hours of manual work or ££s in topsoil to correct levels. I've always dreampt of my own machine, but just hire them in as i range from 3 tons to 8 tons. I ve never expanded from a one man band as i enjoy being on the tools.

[@philmyerscough1]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I bought an 18-Z for some works I need to do at home and I'm now weighing up whether I can put it to work to make some money, either through hiring it out or offering smaller landscaping works locally at the weekends. It's useful to hear other people's early experiences in getting into this sort of work!

[@mtbmaniac25]

Same here as far as fascination goes with machines from an early age, remember always watching construction through fences. Always dreamed about driving machines, but was always talked out of it by parents, since they didn't see it as a prestigious job. Being 26 now, working as a professional arborist, looking to buying my first machine - a backhoe loader to work on my own land. Maybe it'll be a chance for a career change as well. Anyway, looking forward to part 2.

[@penningtoncolin]

Good for you olly I was brought up on a dairy farm for 28years of my life now I'm I've been groudworker ,foreman ,machine opp ,I'm now full time digger driver I love it

[@peterdunn2704]

Really interesting to hear! I was the same totally obsessed with machines and horticulture. We lived next door to sports pitches and got to spend my primary school days scarifying lawn tennis courts etc with the groundsman. When i was 11 they started building houses on them! The groundworkers loved my enthusiasm, so i ended up raking out the lawns and footpaths etc and walking behind the wacker plate. But from about day 3 of them being on site Eugene had me on he knee pulling levers in an old 814 super slide jcb, by 12 i was sitting on a stockpile loading lorries, could never get any sort of experience like that these days! They we're happy for me to learn and respected me, i was so fortunate to have had that - landscape contractor now so it wasn't wasted!

[@peterdunn2704]

Also I worked landscaping in Essex after going to writtle college and worked alongside tamdown groundwork at Beaulieu park. The firm was started by to irish men from kerry who landed in London with just two shovels in their hand!!! Legend's 😅

[@daleedwards363]

Bloody good video ollie. You have just described my journey down to a T

[@surfbumgeegee]

Sounds like me as a kid. Digger mad still am that's how I found your videos, I ended up being a joiner as I couldn't find a way in to being a machine operator but I get to play on a few machines mostly the JCB 2cx we have as a forklift and occasionally get to go digging in it. Best days at work ha.

[@hamptonequipment5853]

Happy Anniversary. keep up the good work.Thanks Mate.

[@tomcarter1080]

You described my childhood already in the first 10 minutes. Including the JCB videotape. I still remember the song from it 😂

[@Olliegunns]

I don’t remember the song but I remember the kid gets a set of the red JCB overalls after his visit and I’ve still never got myself a set even asking at JCB 😆

[@tomcarter1080]

@Olliegunns kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHjVpnyYa9Gkg8ksi=JumJmjLRGMH3Ja3V Somebody KZbin'd it for posterity ^ Yeah my mum had to make me little work clothes with badges etc. Keep building the channel and they will have to get you a set!

[@Colin-wo3bq]

Dizlopi JCB song.​@@Olliegunns

[@jameselderton4414]

I’m Luke, I’m 5 and my dad’s Bruce Lee…

[@Colin-wo3bq]

Hi Oli I've been around around agri & plant machinery all my life properly around the age of 6 years my dad & I were walking along Brighton beach at the time I think doing a new sewage system and one of the operators siad do you want to drive it It being a Poclain 60 tracked slew. Down here in Haddington Mandeville South Somerset i have the luck of knowing a family where 5 of the 6 cussions are all skilled opperaters on anything from 3/4 ton to 17 ton machines and back hoe loaders.

[@declandoolin4356]

I love exavators how the work declan doolan from Ireland westmeath

[@lucaviner265]

damm you just named much of my childhood but im still woriking toward the own business part.-Getting all my tickets very soon.

[@Olliegunns]

I started with zero tickets. I’m still working through getting them all now! They are expensive especially for all the categories you use in this job

[@lucaviner265]

@@Olliegunns Yes they are expensive arent they. Its costing my 2k AUD to get my excavator, wheeloader, backhoe, skid steer and road roller tickets. In Australian here and I imagine England you legally have to have them over to run anything bigger than a kettle🤣 All worth it in the long run though.

[@elbuggo]

When will the book be released?

[@ashdowker4326]

great vlog

[@Olliegunns]

Glad you enjoyed it, I was a bit worried I had gone on too long about a subject maybe no one would care about but it seems quite a few of us had similar journeys. I'll do part 2 this week, running through the 5 years leading up to me starting my business.

[@ashdowker4326]

@@Olliegunns no i enjoyed i was very much like you as a kid diggers diggers diggers i lived for them

[@g-sailing4427]

My life is hilariously identical to yours so far lol.. I went to oz rather than nz but not that different..