Surveying Assistant Review

The role I'm currently undertaking is one of a site engineer with Laing O'Rourke on the Liverpool Street Station Crossrail project. My role involves carrying out quality control checks with relevant drawings (Reinforcement, concrete, temporary works), produce Pre and Post-pour inspection reports, liaising with client (Field Engineers) and other contract representatives to sign off works, raising missing or conflicting information with senior engineers and designers for resolution, carrying out and producing as-built surveys, understanding the accuracy of setting out equipment, providing setting out for permanent and temporary works using a variety of drawings.

Almost everything I do on a daily basis at work is something I have learnt during my apprenticeship. I have been qualified by ESG to test and check concrete and undertaken 3D modeling courses to better help me at work. My course also means I gain a Btec level 3 in Construction and the Built Environment (civils) as well as an NVQ Level 3 in Construction Contracting Operations.

I really enjoy the job I'm doing and the role I'm undertaking. I've been in 3 different teams working on 3 different sections of the project with each giving me an overview of different RC structures. each one has allowed me to expand my knowledge and understand the processes involved which is something I've greatly enjoyed.

On the whole yes, especially with the responsibilities I have been given but that is only on a local scale. With the company as a whole I don't feel as if they really value the time and effort I put into my day to day work. I've only seen the apprenticeship team 2-3 times in almost 16 months and I feel they should do quarterly reviews to better get to know myself and how we work on site.

The Program feels like it is still in its infancy and requires some time to grow into something good. There is no clear understanding what progression can take place during and after the apprenticeship. There should have been a mentor specifically selected that will guide me to better understand what is going on, I didn't get this until a month in and that was only because he requested to work with me. there is no clear CPD or reviews at given times which would have been beneficial for my learning. A lot of the staff on site didn't understand how the apprenticeship program worked so were unsure on how to proceed with a lot of things. The studies were better because it was a set program with a organized team. I cannot fault the College of North West London (CNWL) on the course. I do believe that there is a good foundation for the scheme but it still requires a lot of input from those at head office/off site in the early talent/Apprenticeship+ team to make it into something great.

CITB and CNWL are relatively good at being involved and offering support. we attend lectures every week and then have an NVQ assessor see us every 6 weeks to track our progress with our NVQ. CITB comes to our place of work or college every couple of months to update their systems and make sure we are okay at work and college.

from the site team, I was given support when asked and was mentored by one specific individual as he required help. that was fantastic and without it I wouldn't be in the position I am today. after the first 6-8 months support started to lessen as they didn't feel it was required, I could still go to them if I had questions or issues but they preferred me to work without a superior hanging over me. That is the only real support I received from my employer, I cant say much for others outside of the Liverpool Street team so that is why I will give a 9/10 rating because of how fantastic the site team were.

At first it was tough to transition from a larger pay check to that of an apprentice, I would be paying out almost ones week's wages just on travel but it was something that I had to deal with to gain the qualifications and experience I wanted although it is getting tougher and tougher as time goes on. Being weekly paid, If it wasn't for the 7am - 6pm work day and the occasional Saturday I would not have been able to scape by.

I leave the house at 5:15am to commute to work and I wont arrive at my local station until 7:10pm so having time in the evening for anything else is tough. if I require a grocery shop or want to go to the gym I can expect that activity to be my only one of the evening as I wont get home until after 8:30/9:00pm. Then I need to prepare for the next day with food, clothes and a shower so what I'm left with is just enough time to sleep.

Yes

Because so far I have had good exposure to the industry and learned some valuable knowledge. I would want them of the work ours and the high level of work expected of them and if they can survive they wouldn't regret it.

I would tell them to make sure they read up on the course/job role/company before applying so they are clear that this is what they want to do.