Junior Quantity Surveyor Review

when first starting on the apprenticeship course, I wasn't given much to do due to the lack of experience I had and was only given minor tasks day to day such as tracking projects and reporting on their procurement progress to senior managers. although this helped improve my communication and reporting skill I felt like I wanted to have more pressure as I felt it was a bit too relaxed to learn anything really useful other than what I had already picked up in school and college. Now I am an assistant commercial manager after having worked here for four years and I have been given a range of different responsibilities. Including, daily reporting of project financials and forecasting costs, managing supplier relations and workloads by ensuring I speak with suppliers to check if they have too much or little work on at the time and invite them to bid for work accordingly. then with the bidding for the works I manage all communications and queries the suppliers may have.

I have gained a level 3 Vocational qualification, as well as being sent on courses when I have requested training for a specific activity I am to start doing. I am currently being coached towards charter ship with the RICS which is part of my personal development aims. I have learnt how to manage time and resources effectively enough to keep a project running smoothly as possible from a commercial perspective.

My programme is enjoyable, however I feel that our placements with teams and departments should be longer than what TFL plans for us. usually each placement is for 6 months and although this is good for an apprentice so that they are able to experience different parts of the business, I feel that 6 months is not enough time to bond with your team especially since they know you'll only be in their team for 6 months. so often our team / placement managers don't give us as apprentices much to get involved in which in turn impacts developments. I think placements should be made a year long atleast. having said that, I have enjoyed working within the different departments at TFL and making all the contacts I have. Most people I have worked with are friendly and helpful to apprentices and the culture in the business is a that everyone takes responsibility for their actions and work which is what I like.

to begin with, I wasn't really involved much in projects and works so I felt like an outsider in a few of my placements. however in most placements, managers have been helpful and understanding and have given me work based on my capabilities. However a couple placements where negative, most notably one where I had came in from annual leave to find myself without a desk causing me to sit away from my team and not be involved in the works.

I am one of the first to join the scheme and at the time for the first few years organization wasn't the best. although this did improve later on as it was the first time starting the scheme so the business still had a bit to learn. All my basic needs where met in terms of getting all the support and resources required to get my work done and manager / program sponsors where always available to offer any assistance or answer any problems I had.

When starting on the scheme I was assigned an assessor who would have one to one meetings with me and my placement manager if needed in order to advise on what needed to be done to complete my apprenticeship successfully. he was very friendly and flexible around my working hours and offered advice and support when needed, including over the phone and through email when not able to physically sit down together.

The employer was always available and ready to help when the situation arose, however they where not too active with their personal development reviews that they did with their normal staff.as an apprentice, my year end was in September and should have been doing reviews then which was different to the review time for normal staff which was in April. My scheme sponsors did not properly brief my placement managers of what needs to happen and when and I found myself having to chase my managers to arrange a progress and development one to one meeting.

my salary started off good because I was still living with my parents, but since moving out to live alone due to personal circumstances I have found it tough to manage living in London on my salary as have my other peers who are in the same scheme. Now I have more qualifications I am receiving a higher salary however, it is lower than the national average for someone of my skill level.

there are a few training events which I often try my best to attend as they are practical and full of enjoyment as well as learning opportunities. we have social gatherings every now and then which is good also. there is a social notice board on the company intranet where you could find like minded people to do leisure activities with, which has helped me reconnect with my old hobbies I used to enjoy before starting to work at TFL

Yes

TFL is a well rounded company, who look after their staff and although they need some improvements in areas mentioned on previous questions, they have been working on these and have been letting us know what is being done to improve the scheme going forward. I have gained a good amount experience from working here and all my needs and requirements to get to this level have been fulfilled with support from whoever I asked.

My advise would be to ask as many questions as you need to at the end of your interview as to understand what your day to day job role and responsibilities are to include and what is expected from you. When I started off, with this apprenticeship being my first job, there was a lot I didn't expect and ended up learning through making mistakes which is a normal learning process. although this is normal, the interview and induction where very brief so ask as much as you need to satisfy your understanding of what ever you need to know.