Trainee Quantity Surveyor Review

by Balfour Beatty

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

9/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I am involved with forecasting and monitoring budgets for projects that our company is commissioned to carry out and i report this back to the local council. My main areas are Public Rights of Way and projects funded by local Parish members.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I have developed confidence within myself and the work I produce. I have definitely seen improvements in my accuracy with numbers especially when I need to report back on them, but also have shown a great professional skill in using lots of formula's in Excel.

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

The work I do requires a lot of responsibility which encourages me perform my best when working individually, but also working in a team has been very enjoyable as you get to experience everyone's individual skills and perspectives.

10/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Very well structured. I have uni every Monday and work the rest of the week. My work inform me when training is required for my role, and they support me when I need study/training time. Regular Team meetings to ensure everything is in place.

10/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

My manager helps me with day to day queries and questions, and is always willing to help. HR are quick at responding however I have found a few issues when trying to pay for uni tuition fee's that there seems to be a bit less communication.

7/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Generally, a lot of guidance and one to one guidance if you ask for it. However as my uni group is a mixture of part time and full time students, there is a bit of a bias towards full time students. Part timers tend to have less time to focus on uni.

7/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

The first year was not very relevant to my particular role but it was useful to know. Second year is a lot more relevant and has been helpful to me in my day to day operations and I feel as though I have put some of those skills to practice.

10/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

No extra curricular activities within work now due to the pandemic however before the COVID pandemic there was a company wide apprentice challenge, to raise awareness to apprenticeships, etc. which involved a lot of team work activities, promoting, and even physical challenges.

10/10

9a. Would you recommend Balfour Beatty to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Balfour Beatty really value their emerging talent (apprentices, trainees, etc.) and take care of them in every aspect. Also, salaries are competitive and so you really feel like you are appreciated within the business even if you are at the bottom of the chain.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Balfour Beatty?

Do your research on Balfour Beatty. The company is much larger than initially anticipated. You get to meet so many great people around the country. The interviewing process is very thorough and defnitely taken seriously. I would suggest being very honest and open about how you answer interview questions.