This week marks the 16th National Apprenticeship Week, an annual event which aims to showcase the positive impact apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses, and the economy.
As part of the week-long campaign, Esh is showcasing the benefits of choosing an apprenticeship route by celebrating the achievements of both current apprentices and former apprentices.
Tom was given the opportunity to join Esh Construction in November 2020 to continue his degree apprenticeship after his previous company went into voluntary liquidation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since joining the company as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor, Tom has secured a promotion and has taken on added responsibility by overseeing his own site.
The 25-year-old from Rotherham works on Esh’s 106-home Beech Hill development in Halifax and studies Quantity Surveying at Sheffield Hallam University one day per week.
What was your background before your degree apprenticeship at Esh?
In September 2018, I joined a housing company in Chesterfield which is where I first started my degree apprenticeship as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor until unfortunately the business went into voluntary liquidation through the pandemic. I then applied for a job at Esh which enabled me to continue my degree apprenticeship. Esh have been supportive of my studies and I was able to stay on the same course at the same university.
What made you want to work in the construction industry?
I have always had an interest in construction and engineering since school. For me, it’s seeing the progression of the projects from groundworks starting out on site, to seeing the completed product at the end, this is what really interested me to work in the industry as I like to have something to work towards. Working on Beech Hill, I will get to see the houses being handed over to families which will have a positive impact on their lives, and this makes me feel proud too.
What progression have you made in your job role since starting?
I joined the company as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor and my tasks were supervised by a Senior Quantity Surveyor. After a while I started to take on more responsibilities in my role which helped me secure a promotion to Assistant Quantity Surveyor and I was given my own site to work on. My work is overseen by a Senior Quantity Surveyor and I know that if I have any questions or need any support they will always be happy to help me.
How has Esh helped you develop in your role?
Since joining Esh I have worked alongside different Quantity Surveyors on different jobs. This has allowed me to learn and develop different skills after watching them do their role and picking up tips and advice. As time has gone on, I have been allowed to pick up more work and take on more responsibility. The confidence I have developed and taken into my own work has come from working alongside other surveyors as they have been able to hand down all the knowledge they know. This has really set me up for future work and something I will look to replicate when I have an apprentice working with me in the future. Esh has also provided me with a RICS counsellor and are supporting me through gaining chartership.
What are your day to day activities at work?
I manage the finances on the Beech Hill development in Halifax. I carefully manage the sub-contractor’s packages which includes assessing the payments, making sure the payment is right and is being paid to the correct people when I process. I go out on to site to measure the work that has been completed to make sure what we are being quoted is correct and we are not being overquoted.
The development team meets weekly, I take part in these meetings and produce financial reports to make sure that we are on track and sticking to budget. I also set aside some time to make sure that I complete all of my university work. This allows me to apply the theory that I have learnt at university to my day-today work.
What would your message be to anyone thinking of doing an apprenticeship?
I think it is an ideal opportunity for anyone looking to gain qualifications while working in a professional work environment at the same time. The experience you gain while working is invaluable, you wouldn’t get this exposure in the workplace without doing an apprenticeship.
The main thing I would advise is – make sure you do your research on the qualification you want to study and the role you would be doing. You need to fully commit to it as it will take a lot of hard work to achieve your qualification while also working in your job role.
I think it is an ideal opportunity for anyone looking to gain qualifications while working in a professional work environment at the same time. The experience you gain while working is invaluable, you wouldn’t get this exposure in the workplace without doing an apprenticeship.”
