Quantity Surveyor Review

My role as a Quantity Surveyor involves the procurement of contracts, trades, subcontractors and consultants. Overseeing the day to day finance side of a construction project through orders and monthly valuations. Daily interactions are with the construction director, project and site managers internally and subcontractors' quantity surveyors and site supervisors.

New skills learnt through degree apprenticeship have included measurement NRM 1 and 2, where to look and how to approach contractual issues, ethics, different methods of construction and their advantages. Additional training has included site management safety training scheme which has consolidated some of the more academic learning that I have undertaken.

I enjoy the variety, the work has been varied as have the studies. I like one day a week as it enables you to learn in the real world as well as the classroom. It has met my expectations very well and I am very pleased it is nearly over.

The university changed the programme half way through studying they seem more on the ball now and can better support than when they first introduced it. Work is good too and has a good structure to it to enable the learning to happen. The programme is well organised as a whole.

The university actively encourages support from the manager and interacts with all parties which is good. The support and assistance is there too and the general attitude has been productive and helpful overall. I was surprised about the level of patience they have for adult learners which is a positive thing.

In the final year there has been more guidance, I'm not sure if this is normal or whether there is an understanding that working remotely brings its own challenges or a combination of the two. Either way this has been beneficial to reaching the final year of the course.

By learning more I am able to bring different skills and knowledge to the role, and approach things independently or even tackle challenges with a different outlook or perspective that would have have been the case if the learning was only within the organisation. This is a benefit of external studies.

Extra curricular activities are on hold at present due to covid. I chose note to do any of these during normal times as I didn't want to commute back to the university unnecessarily this was a personal choice due to my own commitments. Work also does not do many other activites.

Yes

university has been local enough/easy enough to attend, has provided a challenge but not too challenging that it has been unachievable. They have been supportive and the work has been varied. Overall the experience has been that of a positive one and has been supported during the learning process.

For me, I did not apply as such it was a recommendation letter from my employer. The only faff I had was with the proof of my exams as these were a while ago, but this was simply fixed by contacting the relevant exam boards. I think people should just enjoy it.