From Combat to Construction

Plant operative Champa on his life as a Gurka and his journey to Holcim

When Champa Thapa Magar joined the Brigade of Gurkhas in 1997, it was the start of a successful career that would span 19 years.

As a unique regiment of the British army with a reputation of being among the finest and most feared soldiers in the world, selection for the brigade is no easy feat. All Gurkhas are recruited from Nepal, with thousands of young people vying for a few hundred job opportunities each year.

“I was born in Nepal in 1979 and joined the Gurkhas just before my 18th birthday,” Champa said. “The regiment has a rich history dating back to 1815 and has fought in multiple conflicts around the world for the British Empire. During my time as a Gurkha, I participated in various exercises and operations that allowed me to travel across the globe, from Jamaica to Kenya, Malawi to Brunei.

“The Gurkhas are well known for their jungle combat skills and their ability to train other armies around the world in this discipline. Teaching this skill set to others in the forces gave me the opportunity to train and interact with members of the royal family when I was deployed in Afghanistan.

“I also trained and interacted with various regiments within the British armed forces and was involved in tough combat roles with North Atlantic territory organisations (NATO) during various operational tours. During this time, I toured Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Falkland Islands, Oman, Canada, Poland and the United States of America.”

For Champa, the transition from jungle combat to heavy machinery was surprisingly seamless thanks to the skills he picked up along the way. Although the art of survival, stealth and jungle combat in challenging terrains require a very distinct set of skills, that ability to absorb new information and adapt to different surroundings would ultimately serve Champa well as his career took an entirely different direction.

New beginnings

After leaving the army in 2016, he trained as a lorry driver, then as a bus driver before becoming a Gas Safe registered engineer. He then joined Holcim in 2023 as a plant operative within the asphalt business at its Bardon Hill site.

“I’ve worked in various roles that allowed me to learn new skills and meet a range of people,” said Champa. “I really value learning new things; it’s something I’ve carried with me since leaving the army and I’ve been able to keep expanding my knowledge and skills while working at Holcim.”

During his time in the army, Champa learned the integral value of protecting the safety of his colleagues – something he has held onto and prioritises in his current role. The clear safety protocols and stringent measures on site are something familiar to Champa and form a part of the job he thoroughly enjoys. As a result, he has completed first aid training and gained other certification during his time at Holcim to further grow his bank of knowledge.

A team player

Remaining proficient in health and safety training isn’t the only skill Champa has continued to harness after his time as a Gurkha. He also regularly goes to the gym to maintain his fitness levels and has credited the punctuality and disciplinary skills gained from his military background in helping him in his current role.

Champa said: “Throughout my time in the army, honesty and punctuality were key parts of my day-to-day life. Now, I still discipline myself to get up at the same time each day, make sure I arrive to work on time and carry out my job to the best of my ability.

“Working at Holcim has allowed me to enhance the skills I picked up from my time as a Gurkha, while also providing me with the opportunity to learn new things. The role has also enabled me to share my knowledge with my colleagues and I feel part of a tight-knit team once again.”