Trainee Quantity Surveyor Review

Managing multiple packages from start to finish, cash flow forecasting, sub-contractor management, Consultant Management, Sub-Contract procurement, contract procurement, liaising with commercial directors, commercial managers and senior quantity surveyors, negotiation, cost control, value engineering; adhering to RICS regulations and standards. Working with NEC, JCT and Bespoke contracts. Working on large scale residential, commercial and rail projects.

I have gained great skills in general Quantity Surveying such as contract procurement, pre-construction, commercial management, cash flow forecasting. Furthermore, I have gained my SMSTS, CSCS qualification. I have gained further skills in assertiveness, leadership, growth mindset. Knowledge of how to interact with others, how to manage subcontractors - many skills have been gained for both my job and as an individual. Without doubt, Skanska have invested a lot of time and money into assisting me with gaining skills.

I enjoy the programme because it's giving me strong QS skills with a global contractor and I love the fact that you can work on so many major projects whether that be a large commercial build, rail project or refurbishment. However, this programme could be improved by moving students around the business more on secondment rather than keeping them in one area of the business. Delegating of jobs on projects are great if you want to learn a lot - you can gain a lot of experience providing you have the right attitude and want to learn. Unless you put yourself out there and ask for extra tasks, and new projects, you may get left behind.

Semi-structured? It used to be very structured, requiring students to complete a whole plethora of tasks in order to be at a good standard. However, due to re-structuring this has now disappeared and there is no clear defined structure about what happens at the end of the programme and whether or not there is a clearly defined career path for apprentices. I am lucky to have a mentor who knows I want to push myself and wants to support me but Skanska overall needs more structure to their programme. The graduates have a much better structure/pathway (called Graduate Passport) than apprentices - apprentices don't get that.

I get 1 day off a week and apply for study days when I have examinations. Furthermore, I get to ask colleagues for assistance when it is required and colleagues are more than happy to support. The only thing I would ask is that we get an extra day off when it's really needed to catch up. 1 day (8 hours) for a degree with three modules with a recommended study time of 10 hours each just isn't enough... I have to find an additional 22 hours in my week to meet the study requirement.

UCEM give me the training that I need to get the degree that I need so that I can progress with my career and become a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. They also support with Apprenticeship Co-ordinators who are on hand to assist you with anything that you may need to be able to reach your goal of obtaining a degree.

The last year of my degree has been the only year that has, had any relevance to my workplace. It's good to gain some insight into people management and economics but I would have much preferred modules which were more job related such as 'Procurement', 'Pre-Construction' 'Building Services Quantity Surveying', 'Civil Engineering Quantity Surveying'.

There are groups that you could get involved in such as the LGBTQ+, BAME, the Womxns network, for example. Apart from this, I believe that social events tend to be only site specific. Apart from the occasional drink on a Thursday or Friday it does vary. The company does do commercial forums and also commercial updates every year (or did before Coronavirus) but I would like to see more social events.

No

Yes and No. Yes because they are a global contractor who have good environmental targets, are a strong, sustainable company with good core values. 9/10 you'll have lovely colleagues. No because unless you get a line manager who really cares about you and your development, it's unlikely you'll be recognised for how hard you work. Also, many other companies base your salary and job title on what you do/are capable of as an incentive/reward for hard work but Skanska reviews salaries based on their internal brackets whether you manage 20 subcontractors or just 1 which leaves students feeling undervalued. This is costing them good talent/future leaders.

With regard to the interviews and assessment days, be prepared and spend time on the task that they set you for the assessment day 1 week prior to that. Be very aware of the core values (care for life, act ethically and transparently etc.) Move out of your comfort zone, only that way will you be able to gain lots of skills. Get involved in as much as you can!