Apprentice Cost Consultant Review

by Arcadis

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.9/10

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

Working as Cost consultant/ quantity surveyor as a PQS in short means that I advise my client(s) on how to minimise costs and adhere to their budget. On a day-to-day this can mean producing cost reports, managing changes in a contract, producing cost plans and many other activities. Every day is slightly different.

8/10

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

I have learnt a wide variety of skills which are specific to my role but I have also learnt many transferable skills, such as presenting, communication, organisational and analytic reasoning.

9/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

Truthfully, I do enjoy my programme but I have found that it can be stressful. The struggles behind working full time and studying part time should not be underestimated. My personal life has struggled at times due to the demands of work and assignment deadlines. I would advise anyone thinking of undertaking a similar route to be prepared to put in countless hours of hard work, whilst not necessarily immediately reaping the benefits.

6/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Overall, the programme is clearly structured. The progression route is graduate from university and then obtain the RICS accreditation of being chartered. However, the programme could have clearer organisation between all stakeholders about the APC.

7/10

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

There is a lot of support within my company. There are always people that I can reach out to.

9/10

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

The university has been very helpful and has improved drastically over the last year.

9/10

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

I believe that the undergraduate course is not highly necessary for my role. There have been few instances where the course has provided new information that I did not obtain from working on the job. However, I do think that the course provides a good overview of what different industries or types of roles are available.

5/10

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.)

There are many extra-curricular activities available for employees at my workplace.

10/10

9a. Would you recommend Arcadis to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

The company provides many benefits to its employees such as private healthcare and a good pension scheme. The work hours can also be flexible for the individual and there is a good work culture.

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

Be yourself and if you don't get accepted on your first try, then try again. I applied twice for my current role. I'd also suggest reaching out to current employees on LinkedIn who may be able offer more personalised advice for a particular role.