This month, we’ve spoken a lot about working with us, and the wide variety of benefits we provide. To round off Careers in Construction Month for 2024, we wanted to speak directly to some of our latest new starters taking up apprenticeships here at HCE.
Hayley, a Pre-Construction Apprentice, and Fred, an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, recently began their career journeys with us. Their time is spent at both our head office and their concurrent college courses, during which they gain a rich mixture of experience and understanding of their respective areas, as well as the industry as a whole.
To explore this further, and get some valuable insight for those thinking about working in this field (and with us), we asked Hayley and Fred a number of questions about their experience so far – take a look below:
How are you finding your work at HCE so far?
Hayley: I’m finding things are going good so far.
Fred: Work at HCE has been enjoyable to get into. I feel really engaged with the work I’m doing, and everyone is helpful.
What does your day-to-day in the office look like?
Hayley: I get on with the various tasks I have, chat with colleagues, have my lunch, keep going with my work, then go home.
Fred: I just crack straight on with the work I have, or get something to do from one of the Senior Quantity Surveyors.
What do you personally enjoy about working with us?
Hayley: I really enjoy the relaxed environment – also shoutout to the Friday company quizzes!
Fred: I enjoy that there are multiple ways of working out how to do a task, and that I can contact a number of people to help me if needed.
How does your time at college feed into the work you do at HCE?
Hayley: It helps by reinforcing why things need to be done, and the processes that happen before and after we secure work.
Fred: College helps me understand why we do the things we do by breaking down the processes involved in being a Quantity Surveyor.
What skills have you developed since starting with us?
Hayley: I feel I have gotten better at decision-making, as I need to be able to prioritise the tasks that require more attention at any given time.
Fred: I have developed my skills a lot on Microsoft Excel, as it is a key tool in my job. I am now able to complete tasks I would never have thought I could do.
Do you have any advice for those who may be considering taking the path you’re on?
Hayley: Go for it. Be confident and just try your best!
Fred: I would advise people not to be afraid to ask for help as you are there to learn, and you aren’t going to know everything straight away.
A huge thank you to Hayley and Fred for taking the time to answer these questions. It’s great to see how well the two have settled into their respective roles and departments, and we can’t wait to watch their progress over the coming months and years as they progress their careers. To anyone out there eyeing up a potential apprenticeship or career in the construction and civil engineering industry, we hope this blog has provided some insight into why it might be for you.
As always, keep an eye on our website’s careers page here for the latest opportunities we have on offer.
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