Housebuilder sponsors ice hockey player employee

An apprentice quantity surveyor who combines his full-time role at Bellway with life as a semi-professional ice hockey player, has received sponsorship from his employer.

Ciaran Wilson, from Swindon, is currently balancing the demands of his career with Bellway and his degree alongside a lifelong passion. The 23-year-old is a semi-professional ice hockey player and when he needed a sponsor for the new season, his employer was happy to help.

Bellway has agreed to sponsor Ciaran with a £1,000 contribution towards new skates and a helmet.

Ciaran said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to Bellway and I’m looking forward to representing my employer with the Bellway brand on my helmet. I haven’t had new skates in years as they are quite expensive. This is going to allow me to be more comfortable on the ice and with the new helmet it’s better protection. It will feel better on the ice to have new kit.”

Bellway South West Managing Director Carl Haley said: “Taking part in sport has so many benefits in the world of work - building strategies, being competitive, developing leadership skills and networking with a wide range of people. So, we are very pleased to sponsor Ciaran in his sporting endeavours.

“We hope that he enjoys competing in his new kit, and we wish him every success this season.”

Ciaran discovered ice hockey before he even started school – having the chance aged just four to go to a Swindon Wildcats game with his older brother. He now plays for Oxford Rising Stars and has previously played as part of the Great Britain squad.

Ciaran said: “It’s one of those sports where you don’t have to know what’s going on to enjoy it, you can just enjoy the atmosphere. It’s so quick and exciting and I loved it from the start.”

Ciaran began playing at ‘stick and puck’ sessions where you can practice hockey skills such as skating, puck handling and shooting. Then when he was six, he started taking part in games.

He said: “I mainly liked being part of a team. At that age you are too young to be any good, but it’s about making new mates. As I got older, I enjoyed the competitiveness and travelling up and down the country to games.”

Ciaran was part of the Great Britain team which won bronze in the Under-19 European Championships in 2019 in Krefeld, Germany, and has ambitions to get to the highest semi-professional level – the National League.

He is now in his fourth season with Oxford Rising Stars. He is one of the club captains and enjoys the leadership role, helping support the younger players and watching the club progress.

Ciaran is in the second year of a four-year apprenticeship based at Bellway South West’s divisional headquarters in Bristol. He takes part in online learning with Northumbria University one day a week and periodically attends the university in person alongside other Bellway apprentices.

He has found being involved in ice hockey has helped him in his career and studies. He has met fellow players from a variety of industries, including those relating to construction, and this has helped him to broaden his knowledge.

To find out more about Oxford Rising Stars, visit https://oxfordrisingstars.com and for information about careers with Bellway visit https://www.bellwaycareers.co.uk/.

Bellway South West is building new homes across Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/south-west.