Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2023
Our Trainee Estimator, Cameron, and Trainee Quantity Surveyor, Liam, are both studying for their degrees in quantity surveying at UCEM. Upon completion, they will become Chartered Members of the RICS – with Liam in his final year, while Cameron recently only recently began her apprenticeship in September 2022. To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we sat down with both of them to learn about their apprenticeship experiences thus far.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your day-to-day job role as an apprentice, and how you fit studying around your work commitments?
Cameron: My day-to-day tasks vary, and include analysing tenders, creating subcontractor packages through project take-offs, and conducting site visits depending on the day. One of the things I enjoy most about Estimating is the variety of work, but with a process or structure to follow that keeps me on track and on time for what’s required. Thanks to the processes in place, my work and studying don’t overlap as I have a good routine.
Liam: Managing the workload while studying can be very challenging, especially when day to day work becomes busier. However, as the course has progressed, I feel I have developed my organisational skills, giving me more confidence to complete assignments and reducing stress as I approach submissions.
Q: What have you found to be the best thing about your apprenticeship to date?
Liam: The best thing so far is developing my learning and education through real-life situations, giving me the ability to offer valid input in discussions and provide clients with reasoned and justified advice.
Cameron: The best thing about my apprenticeship to date has been the opportunity to be involved in a variety of different projects and witness their progression from tender stage to final completion. One of my favourite projects was the Mazda Training Academy in Bedford. It was so exciting to see the empty unit transformed into a fully operational automotive training centre, tailormade to the client’s needs and requirements.
Q: What other benefits have you seen as a result of choosing a degree apprenticeship?
Cameron: For me it’s the amount of knowledge I have gained from the course. This knowledge is making my work life easier as I have a deeper knowledge of certain aspects or company processes that I may not have been aware of before. And vice-versa, my work experience also helps with my degree as I have been exposed to similar situations.
Liam: One of the biggest benefits of a degree apprenticeship is the ability to work and study simultaneously. I feel that this has helped me develop my knowledge and understanding beyond my expectations, just from learning in a real-life environment and in real situations.
Q: What has the most challenging experience been so far?
Cameron: The most challenging experience I’ve had so far is starting the apprenticeship and adjusting to the new workload, as well as taking exams again after a break from school/college. However, once I established a routine, it was easy to stay on track.
Liam: The biggest challenge is getting into a routine and understanding the balance of working while studying, including being able to prioritise. I have developed my organisational skills over the years, and would say that this has definitely helped me to manage the workload throughout the course and approach submissions effectively.
Q: For anyone thinking about joining a degree apprenticeship in our industry, what would your words of advice be?
Liam: I would highly recommend the degree apprenticeship route, mainly because I feel it gives you a massive advantage when completing studies, as you already have contacts from your four years’ experience within the industry.
Cameron: My words of advice for anyone considering starting an apprenticeship is: do it! The combination of work experience and education has made my learning much easier and much more relatable. I have been able to relate to the material better by working through similar situations and processes, strengthening my knowledge. Being organized is crucial for a successful apprenticeship though, so making sure to balance your work and study is what will enable you to get the most out of the experience.
At Form, we are proud to support our apprentices through every step of their journey. National Apprenticeship Week is the perfect time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our apprentices, who are not only gaining valuable skills and experience, but also helping to shape the future of the construction industry. We’re excited to see all that they will accomplish in the years to come.