Apprentice Cost Consultant Review
at Arcadis
Degree Apprenticeship
Surveying
Manchester
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
4.9 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
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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:
5/5
I assist in the cost and commercial aspect of two different projects within the Defence sector for Arcadis, supporting on cost reports, valuations and other aspects.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
It's very enjoyable, allowing me to communicate with many people and build relationships, as well as developing my professional career and learning about the job through my work on projects.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt skills involving analysing payment requests from contractors and reviewing the costs associated with projects. Also, using software tools frequently like excel has made me more proficient and allows me to complete work more efficiently. Alongside this, the use of software's like CEMAR has introduced me to contractual terms such as compensation events and early warning notices that are involved in NEC contracts.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
It is very well structured, providing a great balance of University work and industry work. Having University every Monday means the information I learn from the lectures can be transmitted into my work with Arcadis, giving it a real world application.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from Arcadis, providing many opportunities for learning, career development and networking. My line manager was a former degree apprentice so has a prior understanding of the course, meaning I can ask specific questions which they can tailor and help nurture my learning.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The University has many frequent support sessions to give apprentices an opportunity to ask questions in person which means they can answer more questions and provide one to one support if necessary.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
It helps me by mainly by helping my understanding of the theory and process behind many practices in the surveying industry, highlighting real world examples of construction projects. This allows me to learn from these case studies and implement any practices/ideas into my own work.
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
There are many socials at the various offices, such as the Christmas party at Manchester and many frequent socials whenever I go down to the London office. On top of that, we have team specific socials and events for the defence team, allowing me to meet many of the people across the country I work with and allows me to network with other people in the team and ask them about their individual projects.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arcadis to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Since I have joined, I have felt very welcome in the company and felt that my development has been strongly supported. I have spoke to a wide variety of people who have offered me advice and the company as a whole has given me opportunities to develop, giving me the chance to go down to London for project work and also supporting my academic development.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arcadis?
I would say just make sure you put yourself forward for every opportunity, try say yes to as many opportunities as possible as long as it doesn't affect your work. Get down to every social and use your charity day and just try to talk to as many people as possible when you go to these events. Everyone in Arcadis is friendly and willing to give advice. Also, look for other apprentices in your office and stay connected with them as well as asking the second/third year apprentices for advice/support on anything work or Uni related.
