Trainee Quantity Surveyor Review

I am a Trainee Quantity Surveyor - there are numerous aspects to this role. Typical responsibilities include: contract administration, subcontractor management, cost forecasting and cost value reconcilitation, producing cashflows, change management including producing Early Warning Notices and Compensation Events, Applications for Payment, tendering and bidding, issuing site / variation instructions and so on.

Balfour Beatty provides regular development opportunities throughout your degree apprenticeship programme - as a QS I have complete 3 No. Commercial Development Programme Modules together with other training courses. I have developed new and improved existing skills through my university course as well as the work I complete on a daily basis.

I very much enjoy my degree apprenticeship. I am challenged consistently through my work and the university course. It has been stressful at times, but you do not get a degree for nothing. I have learned a lot throughout my course and would say I have a considerable advantage to full time students as I have gained so much on-the-job learning and experience which has also made some of the assignments easier. Time management is key.

Balfour Beatty has organised the programme well ensuring one-day per week day release for my university course allowing me to attend all my lectures. They also allow additional study release days where needed. The university has also structured and organised the degree course well, however, marking of assignments can be slow in some cases.

My employer and line manager provides regular support for my work and studies. Being in a large organisation has allowed me to network with numerous professionals who have helped not only with my studies, such as completing my dissertation questionnaire, but also through regular work conferences and additional training courses.

The lecturers provide key information in their lecturers and allow Q and A at the end of each lecture for any assignment related queries. We are also provided with a supervisor for our dissertation who provides key advice and assistance with the dissertation. Most lecturers are good, however, some can be unresponsive when trying to contact them, via email, which can be frustrating at times.

My degree course qualification is RICS-accredited and directly linked to my role as a QS. My degree course is based on the construction industry rather than infrastructure / rail, however, many of the same principles and practices apply. I feel as if I am getting the best of both worlds, working in rail and completing a degree course based on the construction sector.

I attend a handful of get-together activities or workshops across the year. I would say that the number of extra-curricular activities are limited and there could be a higher number of professional networking events and social activities. I believe this may have been impacted by COVID as many people now work from home.

Yes

Balfour Beatty is a very professional organisation, offering many opportunities for development and diversification of your career. They have provided me with the great opportunity of being sponsored as a degree apprentice and they are encouraging chartership for all Trainee Quantity Surveyors. There is great opportunity for networking, and work is challenging, yet rewarding.

I would advise others applying to Balfour Beatty to obtain some work experience first in the field of work you are applying to get into. I would suggest that you revise the Balfour Beatty Code of Conduct, Core Values and Cultural Framework. I would also suggest obtaining a driving license as this helped my application and in the construction industry, you are likely going to be required to travel to different sites and offices.