Apprenticeship Spotlight -Laura Akers
The first Apprentice Spotlight of 2022 shines on Laura Akers, a Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprentice working at Gleeds. Laura is studying the Quantity Surveying pathway of the apprenticeship and gives us an insight into what it like being an apprentice in this field.
Very fulfilling
“Being an apprentice can be a daunting prospect. Being a female in a so-called mainly ‘male’ construction environment arguably more so but I can’t emphasise enough just how rewarding, informative and genuinely interesting I’ve found the QS Degree Apprenticeship course at Nottingham Trent University so far,' Laura begins.
'Working at Gleeds alongside my part-time studying is very fulfilling as I can put my learning into practice to gain a deeper understanding. Working alongside professionals in the industry also brings huge benefits as I’m able to learn from their knowledge and experience. My role at Gleeds is very versatile. In a short space of time, I have worked on tenders, post tender reviews and live construction projects. Within my role I am able go to site which is a great part of my job. I love being able to see the progress of a project from infancy to completion.'
Second-to-none support
Laura was full of praise for the support provided by her tutors during her ongoing degree apprenticeship and is thoroughly enjoying her time learning her trade.
'I’m currently in my second year on the L6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship course and have had such a positive experience. The first year studying online for the full year due to lockdowns or social distancing was a challenge however, the support from the tutors was second to none,' she noted.
Despite rising to the challenge, Laura went on to acknowledge, 'It has been great to actually be on campus at University this year to meet others on the course and to create great friendships through the same interests.'
'Throughout the apprenticeship not only do I receive support from my colleagues, but also from the University with quarterly meetings where we review our studies and discuss what we do at work. This is a great way to keep both the University and Gleeds involved in my progress throughout the course.'
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The first year studying online for the full year to due lockdowns or social distancing was a challenge, however the support from my tutors was second to none.
Plan and control
Describing her typical week studying the Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship, Laura observed that , 'In a typical week I would spend 4 days fully engaged in various work projects for clients and 1 day per week attending NTU for the off-the-job study element of my Apprenticeship. I attend NTU on Wednesday’s of each week.'
As a result, Laura feels this allows her to, 'plan and control my workload and pattern accordingly. I also record all of my off-the-job training hours via PebblePad, this provides the necessary evidence for each year of my Apprenticeship, leading up to my End Point Assessment via RICS, once I have completed the 5-year practical element.'
Concluding, Laura said, 'I think that for anyone considering a career in Quantity Surveying should definitely consider the apprenticeship route, not only do you get a degree in a great industry, but also you are in a better position with gaining on the job experience and becoming Chartered.'
If you would like to learn more about our list of apprenticeship courses and our apprenticeship offer , please visit our dedicated apprenticeship homepage.