Apprentice Review
at BAM
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Business Operations, Engineering
Salisbury
Review Submitted: November 2020
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My role at BAM generally consists of dealing with subcontracts. This means I will often be liaising with the Engineering team to understand what work has been completed. I will then proceed to calculate and process the payment that the subcontractor is entitled to. Other tasks that I complete regularly are making sure project records such as staff attendance sheets, are up-to-date and in order. Additionally, I will be helping Quantity Surveyors that are more senior with other tasks. For example helping them to price compensation events.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
Currently I am really enjoying the programme and the people and work I am currently involved in. Whilst studying at college I like being able to learn, meeting new people and being able to explore the city of Leeds. I also really enjoy the practical side of my programme because I am able to be a part of major construction projects and benefit from my experienced colleagues. Covid has been a bit of an issue but i have still been able to progress.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
One of the main skills I have developed in my position is my computer skills. As a Q.S a lot of your time will be spent using excel amongst other computer software. Also when studying in Leeds I feel my social skills were developed greatly due to the amount of time I got to spend with other apprentices. Additionally it has benefited my time management skills as when studying you have to become accustomed to getting assignments in on time.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I think that the programme is well structured, I know within plenty of time when I will be on placement and when I will be in college. I enjoy that the year is split between time in college and time on site. I think this is better for learning purposes as it enables you to solely concentrate on learning when at college and then concentrate on work when you are on site, instead of comparable day release programmes.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
At BAM I receive a great amount of support from colleagues on site as well as the Apprenticeship team. On site, I feel comfortable speaking to anyone about any questions or concerns I have. Also I can contact the Apprenticeship team all year round for similar reasons. Therefore I think the support that Bam Nuttall provides is very extensive. Since the covid pandemic it has been a bit of a struggle but I'm still working towards my goals.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Whilst working towards my qualification, the tutors provide plenty of help for me with all the course work I have to complete. This is either face to face talks or on the phone/video conferences. If I ever find something difficult or do not understand something, I know I am able to approach my tutors and they will be able to help me. Since Covid i have had a lot of calls but i think that our tutors are doing their best.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The knowledge I attain when working towards my qualification has greatly enabled my transition into the role. Obviously, there was plenty to learn when I began work in my placement. However, my qualifications have given me a good base of knowledge to expand on and I hope to continue to do so. There has been a bit of a bump and lapse due to covid-related issues but generally I'm pretty happy with my current progress.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
The college block period is a great time to get involved with social activities and group days out. You are constantly around your apprentice friends and other students making it is easy to organise social activities between yourselves. Bam will also organise social events such as meals which is another great time to socialise and to learn a lot more about fellow colleagues and co-workers who I'll be spending time with in my career.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would thoroughly recommend Bam because they are a great company who support you the whole way through your career. They are involved with large projects around the country, which are very interesting to be a part of. The Apprenticeship scheme is also unique in that it enables you to get the best of both worlds, as you are able to have the student experience as well as being able to work normally on site with experienced colleagues.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAM?
The best advice I can give to someone who would like to apply to the scheme is to be yourself, be enthusiastic and show your willingness to work hard. For the interview be well prepared with questions, knowledge of the company and also the industry you are applying to work in. I would also say to brush up on a lot of other business details with the company as well such as net worth and sales etc.
