We are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2021 with an interview with our Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, Liam Greenhow.
Liam Greenhow joined Form as Apprentice Quantity Surveyor in September 2019. As a degree apprentice, Liam has an opportunity to gain a professional qualification as well as on-the-job experience to kick start his career in construction. Liam is studying for his degree at UCEM, working full time alongside our professional team four days a week and attending university one day a week. His programme runs over five years and upon successful completion he will qualify as a Chartered Member of the RICS.
We caught up with Liam to find out about his experience working as an apprentice so far and why he enjoys being in the construction industry.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in quantity surveying?
My inherent interest from a young age was in architecture, which I actually studied for a year at Portsmouth University. Within that year I really enjoyed the technology and project management which led me to think about the roles that would involve running of projects and cost management rather than designing. I then came across Form and was given an opportunity that led me to give up architecture and start the degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying at the company and I haven’t looked back since.
Q: What’s your experience of apprenticeship been like so far?
From my experience, working while studying is the best way to learn. You pick up so much more and gain the relevant experience by applying what you learn to real projects. While doing an apprenticeship you gain 3-5 years’ job experience before you become fully qualified, whereas when studying full time, you then have to enter the real world and learn how to apply your knowledge and skills. One of the obvious benefits of the apprenticeship is earning while learning, whereas when studying full time, you always try to make ends meet and you rely on your family for financial support.
Q: How do you find juggling work with your study days?
The directors and the team at Form are truly supportive so it is easy for me to maintain a healthy work-study balance. I also get a lot of support from tutors and learning outcome officers at UCEM which makes studying remotely less daunting.
Q: What did your first year working at Form look like?
My first year at Form has given me a great confidence and knowledge that allows me to be competent in my professional role. I have learnt so much and have been given so many invaluable opportunities that I am now able to provide valid input within the running of projects and within the development of the company.
Q: Do you feel having an opportunity to work across different departments and teams has helped you in any way?
Yes, most definitely. Each department and team is part of the journey to deliver the final product and being able to see how each one of them operates allowed me to gain a better understanding how we as a company work as a whole. It also means I can help out across the board and offer assistance where needed.
Q: What has been the highlight of your apprenticeship to date and what have you found to be the most challenging?
The highlight of my apprenticeship has got to be the first project I was fully involved in – from surveying and pricing to delivery and handover. This gave me a boost of confidence for future projects and was a reflection of how much I had learnt since starting with Form. The most challenging part of my apprenticeship so far has been learning how to efficiently manage the commercials of a project and how to use the correct processes, however, I’ve learnt that this comes with time and practice and is second nature once you find the way that works best for you.
Q: What do you think is the single best thing about working at Form?
The best thing about working at Form is the great team bond we all have and being made feel like an equal within the team. Form provides me the support I need, both with my job role and with my studies, which gives me the confidence that I will be able to overcome any future challenges. I look forward to what the future holds for Form and I look forward to being part of its success.
Managing Director, Chris Grenfell, commented:
”We believe that our greatest asset is our people and we are committed to providing a solid foundation to their development. The future of our business lies in the investments we make today in the next generation of professionals and we hope that our apprenticeship programme gives Liam the experience and skills he needs to succeed. We wish him all the best in his career journey and look forward to watching him progress.”