Commercial Assistant Review

I am a Commercial Manager for Mace. My roles include by are not limited to the following: - Prepare tender and contract documents - Award work to subcontractors - Risk & value management - Cost control - Monthly Subcontractor valuations/payments - Manage commercial aspects day to day e.g. change management - Resolving contractual and commercial problems (dispute resolution) - Ensuring that the financial aspects and impact of a contract are clear to all parties

My skills have developed massively since I began working with Mace. These include but not limited to: - Knowledge of MS Excel - Relationship-building and personal skills - Team working and working with different types of people - Negotiation. - Attention to detail - Knowledge of building and construction technology, processes, materials, business and legal matters.

I thoroughly enjoy working for Mace and being on the apprenticeship programme. I get to 'earn whilst I learn' whereas there are others that are at university full time. The benefits that I get from that is the working and live industry experience which is invaluable further down the line.

Mace structure the programme very well. There is the mix of chucking you in the deep end right at the start and assigning you to a project where you will work on a day to day basis. Training is provided throughout the year on a number of matters which are directly relevant to the day to day job.

The support I receive from my employer is very good. I have contact with my line manager and other colleagues on a day to day basis who are able to help me out with any issues or queries I may have. The apprenticeship team are always on hand to help out, as and when required too.

The training at London South Bank University (LSBU) is not as good. The contact time with the lecturers is very limited in relation to work. The standard of teaching is for the majority is sub-par as the lecturers at degree level (that we have had so far) are not full time lecturers, and are in fact students themselves.

The content of the degree is very relevant to the day to day role. Most of the curriculum is dedicated towards Quantity Surveying specific work / role, due to the nature of the degree. Therefore there are aspects which you will learn at uni on the relevant day and can then go and apply it in your job.

Yes

Mace are a global company which are at the forefront of the construction world. Therefore if you are working for Mace you are exposed to some of the best projects, people and experiences that the construction industry can offer you. The training of your peers will provide you with the platform to excel in whatever field you decide to choose.

Be open, be honest and be yourself. There's nothing worse than trying to come across as someone that isn't you. When applying to Mace you also need to ensure you are doing the relevant research into what type of role you want to do and why you want to do this. This will ensure that you are putting in the maximum amount of effort to enable you to succeed in your career.