Jack Higgins National Apprenticeship Week 2024

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2024, today we speak to Jack Higgins, Apprentice Quantity Surveyor. Jack shares his experiences as an apprentice whilst working towards completing his Level 4 Quantity Surveyor Technician course at London South Bank University.

Work Experience at calfordseaden

I first became aware of the opportunities within the construction industry when I came to calfordseaden for work experience. My personal friend and now colleague, Joe Brandon, informed me about the work experience opportunity at our Orpington office and I thoroughly enjoyed my week at calfordseaden. This then led to me applying for an apprenticeship here.

During my work experience, I developed an interest in certain aspects of becoming a Quantity Surveyor, such as cost plans, cost value reconciliation, the life-cycle of a project, and the satisfaction of the completion of a successfully delivered project.

I had the opportunity to meet my team during my week of work experience and was instantly taken aback by how friendly the team were. This was a big factor in me deciding to continue my time here as I knew I would be joining a welcoming and positive environment.

My Roles as an Apprentice

A great aspect of my apprenticeship as a Quantity Surveyor is that every day is different. It keeps you on your toes and prepares you for your full-time career in the industry. In Group 12, I work with some fellow apprentices which is a great experience as you are going through the same journey together. Alternatively, working with the senior members of the Group is beneficial as myself and the other apprentices can learn from the more senior
colleagues.

My primary responsibilities as an apprentice include: cost estimates, finding rates, composing documents, cross-plans, and exploring the feasibility side of jobs.

Aims and Advice

My short-term ambitions during my apprenticeship is to continue to develop my skills and expand my network, whilst long-term I aim to gain chartership status. A piece of advice I would like to give to apprentices is to put yourself out there and attend social events, as this is a great opportunity to expand your network early in your career.