Quantity Surveying Apprentice Review

I've just changed placements but what I've been told I will be doing is application for payments, attending contractor meetings, going on site to see contractor progress & construction techniques as well as cost reporting. In my previous placements I had gone on site visits to see construction techniques & some cost reporting with staff recharges

I have gotten more confident in using Microsoft Excel because I hadn't used it in many years. I've started to learn estimating which will stand me in good stead in my future role as a Quantity Surveyor/Commercial Manager at TfL. I've renewed my emergency 1st Aid at Work Qualification which I had before I started at TfL but was due to expire.

I do enjoy coming into work, at my old job I dreaded waking up every morning. I like the freedom to learn at my own pace. It's pretty relaxed as well & not extremely formal & the neighbourhood working system encourages team work. Some people talk about leaving TfL after the scheme ends I have no such plan

I do feel valued there is a good attitude towards apprentices within TfL rather than just someone who gets tea, I'm looking forward to when I start the level 6 portion of the programme so I can get large amounts of responsibility. We get the same perks as anyone else who isn't senior management so there's no real disparity apart from pay.

It is pretty well structured but there could be improvements which I think will be in place by the next intake. I think they weren't prepared for having 16 new apprentices at first & important forms like placement objective forms weren't sent at first but the staff & procedures seem to have been placed now so it should all be fine

In terms of academic support it's satisfactory & can be slow since we are essentially distance learners. In terms of welfare it's excellent & I can't fault it. there is a member of staff at the college who is dedicated to myself & my colleagues & she always answers the phone or emails quickly & tries top get things done.

There is a large support network at TfL ranging from Mike my sponsor/line manager who is excellent to Yvonne & Cheryl who I can ask about scheme specific questions to Brendan who is in charge of the scheme as well as anyone in my work team so there is a lot of help if I ever need it.

It's just enough for me who doesn't live at home & has bills to pay but since the majority of apprentices live at home it's more than enough for them. The discount at retailers is very useful & I've saved over £150 since I started using it in November. Free travel is a lifesaver since I no longer have to worry about having money on my oyster & I will be taking part in the cycle to work scheme when it opens in may However I'm looking forward to the pay rise in 18 months time

There are opportunities to volunteer my time for charity & we also get told of industry events regularly which while most of the time aren't the most useful sometimes they are very useful to someone like me. There's also an option to help out in stations during busy public events & disruptions which I enjoy as a rail buff.

Yes

It's one of the highest paying apprenticeships around with excellent perks & a wide choice of schemes. They also have lots of experience having done this for many years now & there's good career progression since there's a skills shortage in the transport industry. There's lots of current apprentices to talk to so you won't be alone

Be willing to learn, use common sense, don't worry if you're not 18 there's many who aren't including myself I'm 26. The assessment centre you need to read the behaviours & talk about how you meet what they want but you don't need to be a TfL nerd to get the job just to show that you work well in a group & want to learn. If you have a current job you'll start in the 1st week of September so keep that in mind.