2012
"I initially applied to Solent Uni when it was Southampton Institute and was attracted by its efforts to achieve university status. Initially I studied at Reading College but wanted to step-up the pace of my academic studies and be taught by lecturers with strong construction backgrounds, both in terms of practical experience and academic achievement. After completing a HNC in Quantity Surveying with additional Law and Economics modules, it was the natural choice to continue with my degree studies at Solent Uni.
"As I studied my course on part time day release, I enjoyed studying on a weekly basis with fellow up and coming construction professionals, including surveyors, architectural technologists and site managers. The range of experience among both staff and students was useful, especially to full time students who may have had less hands-on experience.
"Studying for a degree and holding membership of a professional body (CIOB/RICS) demonstrated my commitment to professionalism to my new company. Additionally being confident at interview stage and honest about what I could and couldn’t do allowed my now employers to make a fair and balanced decision on who was most suited to their current team and projects. Showing a willingness to learn new skills and expand on existing knowledge highlights a proactive candidate to potential employers.
"I currently work as a Quantity Surveyor for a building contractor, taking responsibility for both financial and contractual matters on a variety of projects from £100k to £2million. Workload wise, I generally have two to three projects on the go at any one time although this depends on the contract value and the complexity of the job. Obtaining quotes and placing orders with sub-contractors is a big part of my job along with submitting applications for payment to our clients. I frequently visit site to attend client and sub-contractor meetings, measure and value work and to survey a project prior to submitting quotations. In addition I provide support to our estimating department and report straight to our Directors regarding the financial performance of my projects, occasionally being involved in dispute resolution.
"As a student who followed the part time route I would recommend this option to any potential construction students, as it allows you to study and earn at the same time in addition to picking up valuable experience. Many medium and large building contractors run both trainee and graduate programmes as well as summer under-graduate work experience opportunities, most can be accessed via the career sections on their websites. Finally, never undervalue student membership of construction professional bodies such as CIOB, RICS and ABE."