Graduate Quantity Surveyor Review

My experience at BAM has been very positive. As someone who is new to the industry, I have found that the company provides an excellent balance between being given sufficient responsibility and having opportunities to learn independently. At the same time, support is always readily available from colleagues whenever needed. While there are challenges, such as the requirement to live away from home, the benefits and valuable experience I have gained have far outweighed these difficulties.

I am responsible for the subcontract management of lower-value subcontract packages, including undertaking payment assessments, processing payments, completing monthly accruals, and assessing compensation events. These responsibilities have helped me develop a strong understanding of commercial management and contract administration.
In addition, I provide support to the other Quantity Surveyors within my team who manage higher-value contracts. This has involved a range of tasks, including maintaining subcontract registers, carrying out labour attendance assessments, and assisting with various commercial processes.
I am also responsible for managing the requisition process, processing requests from the delivery team, and maintaining the requisition register. This register supports accurate cost reporting and helps ensure effective financial control across the project.

I believe I contribute to the project in a variety of ways, and I can see how the work I undertake supports the wider objectives of the project. As I have gained more experience, my responsibilities have increased, which has given me a greater sense of ownership and made me feel valued as a member of the team. The trust placed in me to take on additional duties has also helped me develop both professionally and personally.

I believe my compensation package is very good and provides a range of benefits that support both my professional and personal circumstances. As I travel extensively for work, the company car scheme is a significant benefit, giving me the opportunity to drive a high-quality vehicle while making my travel more comfortable and cost-effective.
The living away allowance has also been extremely valuable, as it has enabled me to relocate closer to the project and gain experience on site. Without this support, moving away from home may not have been financially viable.
In addition, I make good use of the wider benefits package, particularly the contributions towards gym membership and wellbeing-related benefits. These offerings provide added value beyond my salary and contribute positively to my overall work-life balance and wellbeing.

The role is providing me with the hands-on experience I need to develop a stronger understanding of the profession, and I feel confident that I will be able to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained to future projects. As my experience has grown, so has my confidence. Before starting in this role, I found areas such as presenting and certain aspects of communication and stakeholder engagement challenging. However, through increased exposure and responsibility, I have made significant improvements in these areas and become much more confident in my interactions with others. This development has had a positive impact on both my professional performance and personal growth.

The support available within the team is good and readily accessible whenever it is needed. I am encouraged to ask questions, seek guidance, and review my work with more experienced colleagues, which has been invaluable to my development and learning.
While there are occasions when support is not immediately available due to colleagues being occupied with meetings or other work commitments, this has not been a significant issue. I understand that this is a normal part of a busy working environment, and the team remains supportive and willing to assist whenever possible. Overall, I feel well supported in my role and have access to the guidance I need to continue developing my skills and knowledge.

My work-life balance is generally very good. I am able to work from home two days a week, and my working hours are typically reasonable, with no expectation to work additional hours at weekends. If I need to leave early or work from home for personal reasons, my managers are very understanding and accommodating, which provides valuable flexibility.
One of the main challenges is working away from home, as this can sometimes mean missing social events and spending less time with family and friends. However, I feel that the support and flexibility provided by BAM help to offset these challenges, allowing me to maintain a positive balance between my work and personal life.

The culture at BAM has been very positive from my experience. Everyone is friendly, approachable, and supportive, and there is a strong sense of teamwork across the project. People work well together and maintain a good atmosphere, making it an enjoyable place to work.
The project I have worked on is also very diverse, which has been a particularly positive aspect of my experience. Working alongside people from different backgrounds and cultures provides opportunities to learn from one another and gain a broader perspective. It often leads to interesting conversations and helps create an inclusive working environment where different experiences and viewpoints are valued.
While the expectation is to be in the office three days a week, I have found that there is flexibility when required. This flexibility, combined with the positive team culture, has contributed to a supportive and accommodating working environment.

Yes

I think that BAM is a great place to work, the benefits offered are fantastic and the chance to gain experience on some of the UK's biggest jobs is Seconded to non.

The role was described well and there was good information about some of the roles i might take on ahead of joining.