Trainee Quantity Surveyor Review

by Kier Group

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

8.9/10

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

Subcontract management this includes but is not limited to; payment assessments, formal contractual communications; change control; variation orders. Reporting on contractor staff levels on a monthly basis updating the programme. reviewing formal communication with the employer and chasing actions between the operations teams and the construction support.

9/10

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

Yes, understanding more about finances and management of budgets. seeing how the contract works in the real world. how the contract mechanisms work to trigger and manage change control.

9/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

The programme has been challenging with lockdown and covid restricting face to face meetings/lectures.

8/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

The course is four weeks a year attending lectures and 20% learning on the job. lock down/covid have caused some restrictions on access to learning materials and lecturers responding to queries, but considering his has been new to everyone it has been managed reasonably well with only a few hiccups.

8/10

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

I work on a joint venture and my line manager works for the other venture partner. I have been given the time to complete my assignments and their is a positive culture towards higher education and allocating time for assignments as well as looking at what subjects can be covered in the workplace for the 20% workplace learning.

10/10

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

I receive dyslexia support from the university. This is purely on spelling and grammar and essay structure. The course lecturers are friendly and approachable. it can sometimes take a while for them to respond to queries via email.

9/10

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

It's not always easy to see how the university training relates to my project but both are very much in the early stages. It has helped me understand why we perform certain tasks the way we do. I've not yet had any site experience due to lockdown so i expect this to improve through the course.

9/10

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.)

The project I am on heavily promote extra-curricular actives. Though many of these have been postponed due to lockdown. there is a daily coffee break to social chat and meet people on the project. Quizzes, CPD lectures on relevant topics, book club etc.

9/10

9a. Would you recommend Kier Group to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

The people and culture are warm and welcoming. I've worked with Kier 6 1/2 years before starting my qualification with them. They are keen on promoting and advancing employees careers.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Kier Group?

Reading about the range of works/ project Kier undertake. The different business do work together on projects and not only in isolation. You could start working in one business and end up working for one of the others. Look at specific projects that have been awarded/ completed recently.