Apprentice Quantity Surveyor Review

Within my role, no day is ever the same as one day I may be prepping for an upcoming project in the office by completing cost and value forecasts and another I may be on site with the project team discussing project progress and building monthly applications or any variations for the client.

I have certainly enhanced my communication and teamwork skills during my Apprenticeship as these are vital skills to ensure the full project team is on the same page and all collaborating effectively. I have also developed new skills such as critical thinking and problem solving as a QS is often encouraged to think out side of the box and offer potential solutions to any problems.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme as I really feel the on-the-job side of my learning really enhances my classroom based knowledge acquired at Uni and I also have constant support from my colleagues at work. For this reason, I would advise anyone to consider an Apprenticeship rather than, perhaps the more traditional route of, Uni and then work.

My programme is certainly well structured as I know I am expected to attend Uni one day a week and work the other four days which I find is a great mix! Don't get me wrong, there are points of my degree which become more difficult to manage alongside working full time as well (often around coursework/ exam deadlines) however, you do find a routine and if you're focused and enjoy the role you learn to adapt and work around this to get everything completed on time. As well as my degree, I am also offered lots of internal training sessions which focus more towards the expectations and competencies required specifically within my organisation and role.

I feel great support from my employer as I have a very supportive line manager and also many colleagues who want to help my progression and always have time for my questions. Throughout Covid, my organisation have also introduced a 'virtual buddy scheme' where new Apprentices who join the business are paired up with another Apprentice who may have joined in the few years previous to them. This is a really beneficial support network to have as if you check in with your virtual buddy regularly, you can learn from and support each other too.

Most of the module tutors I have had so far, were really supportive and enthusiastic towards the module and teaching and if I ever had any further questions that weren't answered during the lectures, most lecturers were open to emails or calls to answer any queries. Within the modules where I felt the module tutors weren't as supportive as others, there was always the opportunity to reach out to the Course Director who also can offer support.

I feel my qualification massively aids my role at work, as I feel more confident within my role knowing that I may have previously studied the related information to any scenarios or issues I may encounter. For example, as an Apprentice it can be sometimes daunting to administer the contract to a more experienced and perhaps difficult client, however, having covered two law modules previously at Uni, I would feel more confident in standing by my interpretation of the contract of our entitlements in any given situation.

Within my organisation there are many extra-curricular events and activities offered to Apprentices and Graduates (referred to as Emerging Talent). For example, when I first joined in 2019, the company held an Emerging Talent welcome day at London Stadium where we had chance to meet and network with all of the Apprentices from all parts of the business who had joined that year. Also, programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh and Brathay Challenge are widely offered to Apprentices too which are amazing opportunities to enhance skills even further. Lastly, my oragnisation is big on giving back to the local communities and encourage all employees to get engaged in at least 2 volunteering days a year!

Yes

Balfour Beatty is one of the UKs largest construction companies, which is undoubtedly very successful and has great resource (money, competent staff, opportunities) to be able to invest into their Apprentices so I feel I am really valued and looked after within my Apprentice and have a great sense of job security throughout and after my programme is completed. It is a truly brilliant company to dive into your career with and it looks great on your CV too!

I applied for my position through the GOV.uk Degree Apprenticeship page as the job was advertised with in my selected area and upon successful application, I was invited to an interview. I remember being nervous, as is everyone, however as soon as I arrived, I felt immediately comforted by the office and its' pleasant atmosphere and soon realised my interviewers were not trying to set me up with trick questions but actually they wanted to get to know me as a person and delve into my previous experiences even though it was not always directly related to the role which I applied for. So if I could advise anything I would just say be open and honest and more importantly yourself, you are an Apprentice, they are more likely to hire you if they see eagerness, commitment and potential, they don't expect you to be fully qualified already!