Penny Steel - Torison Projects

I currently work for a company called Torsion Projects as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor while studying for my Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Level 4 HNC. I am based on site Monday to Thursday and then on day release for college on Fridays where I have online lessons with my tutor. While I am on site my day-to-day tasks consist of making purchase orders, marking up drawings for valuations and progress, assisting in putting together Bill of Quants and sitting in on various meetings with subcontractors and our client. Alongside this I am also learning about the processes that I see on site across the project that I am currently on as well as those that I visit over the company.

Originally, I had signed contracts to start this apprenticeship with another employer but unfortunately they went into administration a week before my start date. I was fortunate enough to find another company that was willing to take me on and I was able to put forward Learning Skills Partnership to use for college, as they were my initial training provider. I only had about 2 weeks before my start date with Torsion Projects to get registered with LSP, with the help of Dylan Hopper (Head of Partnerships) I was able to do this in time. Starting this apprenticeship is my first stepping stone into becoming a fully qualified Quantity Surveyor.

I have had two tutors so far during my time with LSP and both have been really good at keeping everyone engaged during the lessons as well as offering support outside of lessons. The systems that are used at LSP work well and are easy to follow and if we do need any help navigating the new systems our tutors are more than happy to help.

I think the main benefit of apprenticeships is the experience you get alongside the learning that provides extra knowledge towards your course as well as providing examples of scenarios to use in your assignment as supporting evidence. While gaining experience onsite I am able to use the knowledge I’m getting through college to aid me in my day-to-day work life. You obviously don’t get any of the university fees and dept but are still getting the same training if not better due to the experience alongside which would be a factor I would use in recommending apprenticeships to others.

I believe it is extremely beneficially to the company’s that use apprentices as they are able to guide the employee into exactly what they need from them when they become fully qualified so that when they have completed the training, they are ready immediately to be apart of the company. In comparison to someone who would’ve had the training full time and then gone to a company they are going to lack in onsite experience and will take a while to get into practice.