Apprentice Quantity Surveyor Review
at Transport for London
Degree Apprenticeship
Marketing
London
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.6 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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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
Quality checking and peer reviewing Procurement Papers for London Underground. Adhering to Governance and Best Practice policies to ensure that Procurement is recorded correctly and complies with the governance in place. Also involved in periodic Cost Reporting for a East Ham Wall Reconstruction Project, this requires liaising with Project Manager to discuss VOWD and Costs.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy working for Transport for London as it is a proud feeling to feel part of an organisation that is an integral part of London's infrastructure. The last year has been challenging because of coronavirus, meaning working from home full time and therefore distancing myself from colleagues which isn't great.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
My apprenticeship is about me learning the skills that is required from a competent Quantity Surveyor in accordance with RICS and with the Apprenticeships Skills Standard. I am developing my skills in accordance with that, it is my requirement to demonstrate these competencies as well as the knowledge, skills and behaviours
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
My programme on Paper is well structured and organised, with rotational placements designed to expose individual apprentices to different teams, environments, workloads as well as different skills to learn. In reality, this happens but there is a lack of help and care from above which is not very helpful for the apprentices
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
Individually I think there are many individuals who are supportive of the apprentice scheme and supportive of myself which is good. However as a business more can and should be done to support Apprentices, in terms of providing more training experiences to ensure we can achieve our competencies and complete the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
My training provider provide the minimum that is required to achieve and complete the qualification, however the actual quality of the training provider is sub-standard and not very professional. I will achieve the qualification but that will not be down to the support from my training provider. LSBU is very bad.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
There are aspects of the qualification that will help me perform better in my role, such as understanding learning and knowledge of procurement and tendering. Also learning about the role of a QS and learning construction technology skills is beneficial for my role and my career, the qualification helps not my training provider.
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
Yes Transport for London has a football league which is set up to bring people from around the network together. However over the last year this has been curtailed and meant I have not been able to get involved, working from home means this isn't possible for myself either.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Transport for London to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Transport for London is a great business to work for because of it's work life balance, also because of its importance and satisfaction and pride that you can achieve from working for such an important organisation. I am proud to work for this company so would recommend to others.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Transport for London?
Learn and understand about the vast range of things Transport for London is involved, it is much more than you think, and there are roles that you would think an organisation like this would not provide but do provide. Embrace and understand the culture of the business, and learn to love public transport
