Project Controls Apprentice Review

My daily job requires me look after the cost side of a multi-million pound project that we are currently working on. It helps me progress quickly and gives me a greater knowledge working on a live project and getting stuck into the real thing.

I have learnt many new skills being with Costain in the last few years such as Primavera, Earned Value courses and I have improved academically also in my maths and other subjects. Being in the office is a great way to learn new things and being around professionals that have been in the industry for many years is a great thing for my development

I have a great project team that I am currently working alongside the team are a very rounded set of individuals and are always willing to help me with any issues I may have. The company itself are great they always want the best from you and reward you for hard work. I do enjoy going to work as it is a great environment for me to be in and develop my career and get to the target of a qualified project controller.

My manager is a great mentor as he has also been through the apprenticeship programme himself so he is very good at advising me on my next step and other things also. After completing my first academic year with costain I had some nice comments about my grades from Learning & Development manger and also my line manager, this is obviously a good feeling and does boost my confidence.

Costain start every employee off with a corporate induction no matter what your job role is. Personally I think it is a great way of getting to know the company as a whole and explains any unanswered questions about the company. Then the training provided they select is filtered down to make sure that they get the very best training for their job role, in the first year I was working away full time at the training centre which was a good learning curve for me and I experienced a lot of new things in my time there that are different to my normal day to day job roles. Now I am attending a one day release at the training centre to finish off my 2nd year BTEC. Me and my mentor have discussed my objectives for this year and targets that are key for my development, this is a great time for me to discuss any problems I have with my job role or any training issues I have.

My tutor comes into my company every month to discuss new objectives and discusses my units for my NVQ this is a good meeting because it can be a good feedback session if i'm having any problems with anything. The guidance that my tutor gives me is great because he has had pupils in the past that have taken on the Project Controls Apprentice title. He always keep me updated with any changes or any tasks he needs me to complete.

My employer supports me in anyway they can, may it be college or day to day work they always are asking me if everything is going okay and running smoothly.

The pay is great they always reimburse your travel/hotel costs if your working away somewhere. The location of the office is great for me only a 20 minute commute to the office from home which is ideal.

There are always opportunities outside of work for company roadshows and company activities etc, I feel that having theses days really keeps the employees motivated also carries a sense of job security. Costain are always big on charity events for local trusts or even the big events such as red nose day etc.

Yes

Because of the passion it has for you to do well and achieve the best you can!

1. Be yourself! 2. Don't worry about anything. 3. Be calm and cool. 4. Make a good first impression! Because they always last. 5. Turn up looking smart.