Meet Faithful+Gould apprentice Ollie, who is two years into his apprenticeship at Faithful+Gould, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group. He is also doing his degree in Quantity Surveying at the University College of Estate Management (UCEM). We recently caught up with him about his experience:
How easy was it to apply for the apprenticeship?
I applied for the role online via the Atkins website. I began by filling in information about myself and why I wanted to join the company. I submitted this information along with my CV and cover letter. Within a week, I was offered an initial telephone interview.
How did your apprenticeship telephone interview go?
It went very well. I spoke with a member of the early careers team about the information I had provided. We also talked through some practicalities, like how I would commute to work. Shortly after this interview, I was invited to attend the assessment centre.
What was the apprentice assessment centre like?
This was a day event with other potential apprentices. The day was made up of team challenges, an individual presentation and an interview. Overall, the assessment centre was well put together, and I enjoyed the experience.
About two weeks later, I was informed that I'd been successful and was offered a position on the infrastructure team. I've been happy and motivated since that day!
Why did you choose Faithful+Gould?
I was impressed by the care Faithful+Gould show their employees and the wide range of benefits they offer. And I could see this was true from the start of my application. The team kept me up to date about my application every step of the way.
Faithful+Gould also have a great reputation for their wide range of ground-breaking projects, including Crossrail, HS2, East-West Rail and many more. I wanted to have opportunities to be involved in high-profile projects that will positively change people's lives around the country.
Tell us about your experience in the Faithful+Gould apprenticeship programme:
The scheme is an incredible opportunity for young people to get into the construction industry. It allows individuals to gain on-the-job experience and work towards their Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation after graduating.
The chartership can be completed during the apprenticeship. This was very appealing to me. It means I can achieve an industry-recognized qualification within five years of starting on the career path!
I'm pleased to be part of Faithful+Gould and excited about being on this training scheme. It's an opportunity for me to gain significant hands-on experience, which I can demonstrate to future clients.
What is studying and working like?
It can be challenging, but I've learnt how to manage my time well. I study one day a week and work for the remaining four days. I have excellent support from my colleagues at the organization. I also get a lot of support and information through online university resources.
The extra support I receive from my colleagues is invaluable. Some of them have been through this process themselves. So, they understand how they can apply their knowledge and experience to guide my learning.
Overall, I enjoy the hands-on learning. It goes hand in hand with my university studies, helping me learn the ropes in my career as a quantity surveyor. It's also been rewarding to see how well I can do at uni and work.
What do you enjoy most about the infrastructure practice?
For me, working in the infrastructure team is a different experience from working in any other sector in Faithful+Gould. It gives me a wide view of the different kinds of projects that excite me, including rail, highways and nuclear projects.
Having so many sectors to choose from is helping me decide if I'd like to work in one area or continue to experience new and different projects.
The personal benefits of working in this team are also huge. I'm currently working on a High Speed 2 project at Euston station. I find it especially interesting and rewarding, as I use the station for my daily commute to and from work. I love working on projects that directly impact my life – it fulfils me!
