Quantity Surveying Apprentice
“I started considering an apprenticeship when I was 16. I knew I wanted to do my A-levels and go on to do a degree, but a few of my older friends had joined apprentice programmes and their positive experiences opened my eyes to what they offered. The fact that you can gain a degree on an apprenticeship, while getting real working experience and starting to earn a living, and all at the same time, seemed like the best of all worlds to me. I think there are still misconceptions of what an apprenticeship can offer though, but after explaining all the benefits to my parents and showing them what this scheme would give me, they gave me their full support.
“I wanted to make sure the qualifications I gained were going to open more doors for me in the future.”
When looking for an apprenticeship, I was keen to work for someone with a good reputation who I knew would invest in me in the long-term. I also wanted variety and a chance to work with real experts in their field – it was important to me to maximise the skills and knowledge I could learn from lots of different people. And of course, I wanted to make sure the qualifications I gained were going to open more doors for me in the future.
When I saw the FCDO Services Quantity Surveying programme, I was immediately interested. It was a trusted and established organisation. It offered the degree I was looking for and I loved the idea of working on government construction and estate projects. The exposure to different kinds of environments would help me learn and it looked diverse in terms of what it allowed you to do. And the fact that the degree would be funded, and the salary package was good appealed to me too. Having the chance to travel was a bonus. Plus, I felt the programme looked more exciting than any I’d explored. After I applied, FCDO Services got back to me really quickly. The whole process was really engaging.
“I never thought I would get the chance to work on high-level projects so early on.”
So far, I’ve been on day release for one day a week at University getting my studies underway. Then for the rest of the week I’m with the team at FCDO Services and working on real projects. Lately, I’ve been supporting an experienced Quantity Surveyor on a UK-based project. I’ve visited the site every week to check on the progress of the project and I’ve gained even more knowledge by being on a construction site. Being involved in live projects has also given me the opportunity to take what I’ve learnt at Uni and put it into practice.
I’ve also worked on several tender evaluations in both the commercial and technical aspect and I’ve been on business trips to Paris and Bordeaux to gain a better understanding of how a site works outside of the UK, as well as becoming accustomed to FCDO Services’ travel procedures. I never thought I would get the chance to work on high-level projects so early on. I’ve even had an active role on multi-million pound tender reviews. It’s been brilliant seeing the impact my projects have on the safety of the nation!
I’m looking forward to the opportunities I’ll gain once I finish my apprenticeship. I hope I’ll be able to pursue a career at FCDO Services and know if I do, I’ll get the variety that I’m looking for in my career.”
