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Hi, I am Elle and I am currently closing in on my 2nd year here at Buxton. I joined the company as an apprentice Quantity Surveyor in August 2019, and I haven’t looked back since. Since joining the company’s degree apprenticeship scheme I have developed an array of skills and knowledge that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to obtain if I went to study at university full time.
If I had gone to university full time I would not have had the hands on experience that I have gained here at Buxton. There are tasks such as putting together comparisons and approval sheets that I wouldn’t be taught at university which are tasks I carry out very often whilst at work and sometimes multiple times a day. Without learning these processes I wouldn’t have knowledge on basic components that help contribute to a Sub-Contract Order.
Not all of the skills are exclusive to the construction industry, I have learnt valuable transferable skills that will help me throughout my professional career. Learning how to compose an email in a way that reads well and is professional in tone, as well as being taught how to conduct meetings with Sub-contractors are all useful to know and can be applied in all aspects of my life.
I must admit that I was sceptical when I first joined the construction industry as it is so male dominated and wondered if I would fit in with how the industry works, however I can honestly say that there was no need to be. I have been welcomed into this industry with open arms, not only from my own colleagues here at Buxton but by everyone I have met along the way. The amount of people that want you to succeed has been incredible. Everyone is so ready to help you learn and answer any questions that you might have.
I have worked on several projects since joining all of which have been so different from each other. The two current jobs I am working on are a refurbishment of kennels and the cattery at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as well as a recladding job over in Croydon. As you can imagine they are two very different jobs which helps with my learning and training as I am getting to see a variety of different trades at work. I cannot put into words how much I have learnt from being able to visit site regularly and see what is happening with my own eyes.
It may seem daunting when you initially look at a drawing but once you have been to site everything begins to slowly fall into place and you begin to put the pieces together as if the project is a jigsaw. It soon becomes second nature. There is no more rewarding feeling than seeing a project you have worked on coming together.