Apprentice Quantity Surveyor Review

My role consists of managing, awarding and procuring contracts. Making sure that the costs are kept to a minimum and we do not exceed our budget. My role also involves estimating and commercial management from inception until post- completion. I also have to analyse quotes to make sure we are not being overcharged.

I have learnt a wide variety of skills including, excel skills to further my knowledge and use of this programme creating spread sheets with multiple functions from costing and finance to macros designed to pay the wages and applications for payment that we receive from our suppliers which come in periodically.

I am enjoying my programme a lot, this is due to being on a very friendly well organised team who all try and keep me as busy as possible in order to further my understanding and progress my career. They also like to give me lots of responsibility which helps me to learn.

My programme is very organised because every 6 months I move onto a different part of the company to make sure I roll off with a wide variety of experience which will be vital towards developing my career. Our sponsors and programme leads are in constant communication with us to make sure we are kept busy and happy.

I receive lots of support because we always have someone we can speak to if we need help, this is because, we have a buddy from the year above us who is there for whenever we have any small questions and we also have a placement manager who is in charge of our placement as well as a line manager/ mentor.

I receive lots of support because TFL provides and extensive support network putting most lots of support feature in place one of which is a central resource bank which has lots of information to help us with all of our studies and assocRICS there are also managers on hand to help with any queries.

My training course helps me to perform better in my role because it gives me the base knowledge that is needed in my role to help me with contract law as well as the basics of construction. However, the course would be more beneficial if it was rail specific rather than general building.

There are lots of apprentice social events which means that all of the apprentices are able to meet up and network across the business and with other schemes. This is good because it enables us to make friends and have as good of a social lift that we would have got at university.

Yes

I would recommend Transport for London to a friend because they enable us to have a good work life balance whilst still being able to learn on the job and they give you an opportunity to really progress you careers. Transport for London is also very easy to progress through the company due to lots of opportunity.

I would tell other people applying for Transport for London apprenticeship schemes to be yourself, work hard and just try and do the best confident person you can be because, this scheme is one of the best apprentice schemes in the country with great opportunities to kick start their career.