Apprentice QS Review

I work with senior Quantity Surveyors daily learning off them and using their experience to my advantage. They will give me tasks to do and will talk me through them to help me to complete the tasks. As time has gone on I've gained more experience and knowledge, as a result I have gained responsibilities on projects such as subcontract management (getting quotes and setting up orders), pricing up compensation events and creating Forecasts. I will often work with different roles within the company daily from Site Agents to Designers, we all work together using each other’s skill sets to complete tasks. I attend site frequently as it gives me an opportunity to see how the projects progressing and gives me a chance to meet site-based staff, subcontractors and clients face to face.

While completing my apprenticeship I have gained a Level 3 qualification in Civil Engineering. As well this qualification I have also gained a CSCS card and completed a course in water safety. Over my time as an apprentice it has help develop my skills as a person as well as a Quantity Surveyor, it has helped me become more confident when speaking to people one to one or as a group. I have also learnt to become more organised to aid me complete tasks.

I enjoy the work I do, it varies day to day so therefore doesn't become tedious. When working within a team it helps to build relationships in and outside of work, you can help each other out and ask for advice when needed. I believe having one day a week solely to complete my Level 3 qualification was good as it meant for that day I could focus and that and didn't have work distracting me.

Work wise my programme is structed very well, always have support from the senior quantity surveyors I work with and my manager. They provide me with a good amount of work load and always push me. Training for my level 3 qualification was good in the most part but at times support wasn't always there and could take time to get the support required. Changing of teacher didn't help with this but at the end once my later teachers go on board the support was a lot better.

My manager and mentors have been a great help and always support me when they can and will also give me time when required. I believe there was a bit of miscommunication between HR and my learning provider at times and this meant problems was hard to resolve. I would of liked HR to of been more in contact to see how we was doing with are qualification and believed it would of helped with some issues.

Support was there when needed most of the time but sometimes feedback on work would take a long time to come and therefore meant work took longer to complete. Towards the end of my course support and feedback was a lot better and would tend to receive it a lot quick. This increase in support and feedback was due to a change in teacher. I did enjoyed doing my qualification and build good relationships with my teachers.

Personally the qualification hasn't really aided me in my job role as a Quantity Surveyor as it was Civil Engineering based. As a result haven't put any theory from the course into practice and doesn't tend to help me on a day to day basis. Although it has provided me with a solid basic understanding of Civil Engineering and does aid me when different terminology is used. It has helped me in getting a basic understanding of different plant and different methods of activates such as piling.

N/A work from home.

Yes

I would recommend JN Bentley as I believe they can provide you with the opportunity to progress or start your career. They are experienced in developing employees and therefore can aid you just as much as you can aid them. I believe they have the right goals, attitude and ambition to progress as a company and therefore there is a good environment and fell the company. You always feel like you belong and are wanted.

Be confident, be yourself and be truthful.