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Higherin
Kier Group

Quantity Surveyor Review

at Kier Group

Degree Apprenticeship

Construction

Sheffield

Review Submitted: February 2022

Overall Rating

2.6 /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!

2.5/5 - Overview of Role
3/5 - Skills Development
1.8/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
All commercial aspects of project surveying from a Contractors position; including concept design and cost plans through to delivery and aftercare. The role is process heavy and mainly involves meeting and steering subcontractors and designers to achieve quality, accuracy and therefore cost effectiveness in project delivery. No two days are the same.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
Spending time with like minded students is a big benefit, and I find all tutors to be friendly and open. I do not enjoy the additional pressure of assignments when working, but that is usually due to my employer making no time accommodations for this to happen. Which impacts my life.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
From my workplace yes, much less so from University as this is vocational, and we’re already performing the role. The degree apprenticeship functions to provide some academic backing to the experience and is the best way in my view to jump start your career. Very difficult to time manage.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Relatively disorganised. There appears to be a lack of ownership of communications, which is not all the fault of the university. But myself and others remain uncertain of what is required; when it is required and there are often admin changes which drop unexpected deadlines, which is a personal gripe.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
None whatsoever. But this can be a comfortable level for me. My employer forgets that I have university to attend and complete. And when reminded this is always an inconvenience as there is always urgent work to do. I must stress I do not ask for help particularly, but I’m aware there no great structure for help there too.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
There’s as much support as would be reasonable in the delivery circumstances. The majority of support is not taken up as we’re remote apprenticeship students. The useful help which is given is direct q&a with a module leader, as this enables us to push on and get assignments done.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
There’s been a few brief times where some legal or professional body knowledge has helped within the workplace. But generally the day to day practice of contractors Quantity Surveying is far removed from the client side or house building programmes we get taught from the training provided in the classroom.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
None whatsoever. Which I would likely not attended anyway. So the answer is no, and that’s two letters, one word. Not fifty! So you’re now receiving a lot of confirmation of the no, rather than a laconic version of the answer which whilst perfectly valid, doesn’t achieve vouchers.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Kier Group to a friend?
No
Why?
The company is not stable and has not been for some time. Where the leaders are well established the business doesn’t well and I would recommend it, however recent tumultuous times has meant that these pockets or good business and fewer and father between and there’s not guarantee.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Kier Group?
Consider what it is you are after from the company - the pay is competitively poor which has been independently verified. So there must be other circumstances and benefits which Kier as an employer must offer you, which should entice an application and commitment to the business stream within the group.
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