5 Minutes With Mihai Dragut

For National Inclusion Week, we sat down with Mihai Dragut, a trainee engineer in FM Conway's Structures team, to hear about his journey into construction, his Romanian heritage, and what inclusion means to him.

How did you get started in construction?

I came to England in 2018. My dad moved here, and we all followed. It was a big adjustment, but I liked it. My English wasn’t the best, especially my reading and writing, but the school system helped me settle in.

After secondary school, university didn’t appeal to me. I didn’t have a strong background for a company to take me on, but I knew I wanted to work in construction. An Apprenticeship was my first choice, and FM Conway was top of the list. All my family worked in construction—my grandad was an engineer in Romania for many years, my dad followed him, and I thought, ‘Might as well’. I’d been around it as a child and it came natural to me. It was an environment I had gotten used to. Now I’ve been with FM Conway for three years and I’m about to graduate my apprenticeship.

What’s it like being Romanian on site?

It’s actually helped a lot. There are lots of Romanian workers, so communication is easier. I often translate when I see someone struggling. I can tell when someone doesn’t understand, and I just look and explain it to them. I even suggested a translation app, though I realise it can be tricky with sensitive data.

I’m also an Orthodox Christian, like many other Romanians. It’s part of who I am, and it comes with the package. And now I’m part of the Culture and Faith Forum here, which has been great.

I can see FM Conway has made an effort. Many posters and policies are written in Romanian, and Site Agents even try to speak a few words. That really surprised me.

What does inclusion look like to you?

It’s welcoming someone with their ideas and beliefs and making them part of the group. From a faith point of view, it’s pretty much letting people do their own thing. It’s a two-way street—FM Conway helped me, and I’ve worked hard to integrate.

My Site Agent, Connor Fry, saw I was at a bit of an impasse and stepped in to mentor me. He showed me how to speak to clients, book materials, and understand site processes. He wasn’t my manager, but just someone who cared. That made a big difference in helping me grow.

What makes you proud of your work?

There’s always something. It’s the teamwork. When we all work together and everything goes to plan, those are the moments I’m proud of. It’s all the lads, building real, tangible things together. You might be working in the rain or hot weather, but you’re there together as a team, having fun.

If you’re willing to work, you’ll be welcomed. No one would oppose you—everyone’s there for each other.

FM Conway hired me at 18 and said, ‘We’ll help you’. Everything I needed to adapt and integrate was given to me and I’ve embraced that. Now I can run small jobs and take care of myself. I never say no to a task—I’m always up for it.

Any advice for others thinking about construction?

It’s going to be fun, sometimes confusing and daunting—especially when you’re dealing with different cultures. If you’re willing to work and be part of a team, no one will say no to you.

Someone once said, ‘Oh, you’re Romanian—of course you work in construction’. But when they find out I’m 21 and trying to be a project manager, they’re surprised. That’s the best reaction.