championing construction for all
As a young boy, Mustapha Nyass didn’t see himself represented in the construction industry. But he didn’t let this stop him from pursuing his dreams. From helping his mum build their house out of clay in The Gambia, to leading his team at Holcim to success every day, Mustapha’s story is one of grit, perseverance and belief.
Now, as a regional operations manager at Holcim, Mustapha believes that a positive attitude is fundamental to every aspect of both personal and professional life. And it’s something he’s introduced to his team working on the Sheffield site.
forging a new path
As a child, Mustapha wanted to be a soldier. He said: “I used to watch Rambo and just think military life was so exciting. But my mum was not impressed! She said there was no way I was joining the military and so I had to look at another avenue. I’ve always had an interest in engineering and construction in general because of my childhood experiences.”
Mustapha grew up in The Gambia before moving to the UK at the age of 13. This environment gave Mustapha the skills that, unbeknown to him, would be so vital in shaping his love for all things construction.
Mustapha said: “One of my greatest memories of growing up was being able to help build our house out of mud and clay. We used to fetch water from the wells with wheelbarrows and buckets and then we’d come back and dig holes in the clay pits. We’d pour the water in and dance to mix it all together before using our hands to beat it into wooden moulds. Then we’d leave it to set in the sun because the weather in Gambia is fantastic – that’s why I always tell people I’m tropical!”
Before moving to the UK, Mustapha had visions of what the country would look like from the films that used to be shown in the makeshift cinema in his village. But when he arrived, he was slightly disappointed.
“I didn’t know at the time, but all the movies I used to watch were filmed and produced in America,” Mustapha said. “So, when I came to the UK, I was really excited to see all these big skyscrapers, but instead, found myself in Watford.
“It’s safe to say it wasn’t what I was expecting from an infrastructure point of view, but then my mum took me to Canary Wharf and I loved it because I got to see all the buildings I’d dreamed of back at home.”
Mustapha performed well at school, excelling in maths and design and technology. Then a charity group called Connections paid a visit to Mustapha’s school and introduced him to the idea of applying for an apprenticeship in the engineering industry.
Mustapha’s construction career began back in 2007 when he started as an apprentice with industrial company, Lafarge where he trained in lab techniques, operations and equipment handling. He then moved through multiple roles and locations before settling down with Holcim at our Sheffield plant in August 2022. As of April this year, Mustapha also looks after Halton East asphalt plants and has recently been promoted to regional operations manager for the North East.
Mustapha said: “After two and a half years working at the Sheffield site, I’m really excited to take on the role of regional operations manager and all the challenges and opportunities that come with it.
“I try to approach things from a positive mindset all the time because while asphalt plants are brilliant, they can also be complex. We’re dealing with highly abrasive aggregates, extreme environments and temperatures so things are bound to be challenging.
“And then there’s the people management point of view. People are the most complex things out there. We all have our own characteristics and our own way of doing things which can make organising everyone quite difficult. But that’s what I love because it’s never dull, right?!”
While Mustapha loves the variety that his job brings and the positive energy that he gets to share with his close-knit team, his journey to this point has brought with it its fair share of challenges.
believing starts with you
When he first arrived in the UK, Mustapha felt imposter syndrome when it came to his ability to speak English. During his time in Watford, he attended classes organised by the charity Afro Caribbean English Support Group to help him with his onboarding into the country.
“I’ve always felt imposter syndrome when it comes to my accent, but it’s something I’ve learned to deal with over the years,” Mustapha said. “It’s also one of the main reasons why I lead the affinity group within Holcim and champion for more diverse representation in the industry. I engage with local schools to teach kids about our industry and work with Holcim to encourage people from all different backgrounds to give a career in construction a go.
“Pretty much most of what I’ve learned has been through getting involved, asking questions and being enthusiastic. I’m a big believer that anyone can work in this industry, you just have to have the right attitude and be interested in what we do. I’ve taken on two apprentices here at our Sheffield site and it’s been fantastic to watch them grown and I’m eager to welcome more young people to our plant.”
Outside of work, Mustapha is always busy. He spends as much time as he can with his daughter Maya and encourages his team members to get active outside with organised group hikes.
Mustapha said: “My daughter, little miss Maya, is going to be eight this August and anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about two things – work and my little girl. I live a very simple life which I enjoy and am content with. If I’m not at work, I’m either with Maya or I am out in the mountains hiking or on a road trip. Maya tells me all the time that she’s proud of her daddy and that’s all that matters to me.
“Maya’s main passion at the moment is horse riding, so I take her out and we do that together. I’m actually looking at the possibility of maybe buying her a pony or something, but let’s keep that between us for now!”
When asked what advice he’d given to anyone who feels as if they don’t belong in an industry or is dealing with imposter syndrome, Mustapha said: “You’ve just got to keep pushing. Just have that clarity of what you want in life and know that beyond you, no one else is going to push you more than yourself.”
Whether at work or at home, Mustapha brings positivity to any task he faces. From small beginnings in The Gambia, he has made himself an integral part of the Holcim team and we can’t wait to see what he achieves next.
