Apprentice Review

by Balfour Beatty

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.8/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

Management of 9 different sub- contractors which involves me: Preparing payments based off my assessment of their work done Predicting how much we'll pay each sub contractor a month Submitting labour timesheets to subcontractors Reporting

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I have developed my excel skills, communication, contract knowledge and a further understanding of other roles in the construction industry.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I enjoy the programme thoroughly. Working at Balfour Beatty is exciting with lots of team events yearly, university trips and volunteering opportunires.

8/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

My programme is extremely well structured- I had a structure within the first week of tasks I needed to complete and this structure has only been developed further. Balfour's early careers programme has multiple events I'm required to attend for two years which will develop my personal and professional skills.

10/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

I receive lots of support from my employer- all my uni fees are paid for!

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

I recieve a decent amount of support but find sometimes that I struggle to get a response from some of my emails.

6/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

Not all of my course is completely relevant to my role but nonetheless it is interesting and lets me understand the roles of some of my colleagues.

7/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

As I am site based there is a lack of opportunities for site based as my office isn't that big and not everyone is local. However, I knew this would be the case when joining the construction industry so this doesn't particularly bother me.

6/10

9a. Would you recommend Balfour Beatty to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

It's got a great early careers development that ensures development. The university course has been created with Balfour Beatty representatives so it will be tailored for working for a main contractor. There's no stigma around being an apprentice at this firm ( no ones going to expect you to make them a coffee) Amazing company to have on your CV at such a young age!

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Balfour Beatty?

Be yourself in your interview- talk about your personal life not only your academic achievements as the role itself relies on relationships between the main contractor and sub contractors heavily. Don't be afraid to interview the interviewer as well - you could be working for this company in the future so make sure its somewhere tailored to you as well.