As National Apprenticeship Week gears up to celebrate the value that apprenticeships bring to businesses, Apprentice Quantity Surveyor George Hamer is speaking out to show what a difference they can make to individuals’ careers. George started his apprenticeship with Bellway Homes in September 2024. He works with Bellway four days per week and spends one day per week on his university work.
“I’m learning something new every day,” George explains. “It’s a superb opportunity – I’m part of a team where I’m encouraged to ask questions whilst also trusted with a range of responsibilities. The apprenticeship with Bellway is providing me with invaluable experience. I can feel myself improving almost daily. It’s a great way to launch a career while studying at the same time.”
As an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, George is based in Bellway’s Reading office three days each week, while spending one day per week at either Bellway’s Montem Square development in Slough or Chilsey Grange in Chertsey. On Fridays, he has online lectures and time to work on his university assignments, with a trip to Northumbria University in Newcastle (where Bellway’s head office is located) at least once every seven weeks. The blend of hands-on learning, time spent shadowing his line manager and academic study is a key part of the appeal for George. He comments:
“I love the fact that no day is the same; the variety is part of the appeal. The trust and freedom of the role are also great. My line manager sets me tasks but it’s up to me to plan out my day and work out how and when to get everything done. He’s always on hand if I have a query, but I’m given the headroom to run with the role – I’m well supported but without feeling like there’s always someone looking over my shoulder. The chance to be part of weekly site visits and shadow my manager is also a key part of the experience.”
George starts his day at 8am with a catchup meeting with his manager. The pair map out their plans for the day ahead. As an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, George is responsible for procuring and managing subcontractors for the Montem Square and Chilsey Grange sites, from getting quotes to managing the twice-monthly payments, along with a wide range of other tasks. On site visit days, he attends meetings, walks round the sites and checks the progress that has been made since his last visit. Meetings include a pre-start discussion with every subcontractor to clarify expectations, project development meetings with the site manager, quantity surveyor, contracts manager and sales manager, to track progress of whole site, plus meetings with the Housing Associations with which Bellway works.
“It’s a great way to gain experience,” comments George. “I’ll be shadowing my line manager for the first two years of my apprenticeship, then given my own site, which is really exciting.”
George applied for the Bellway apprenticeship through UCAS. With an electrician uncle and a stepfather in steel manufacturing, working in construction appealed to him, but he also wanted to work with numbers. He recalls:
“I applied for several apprenticeships, including a few accountancy roles because I enjoy problem-solving and working with figures, but it was the Bellway Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship that was the one I really wanted. The interview process was seriously tough. I sent my CV initially and had to answer a series of questions on why I wanted to be a Quantity Surveyor. Then I had to do an online interview with a series of timed questions – it was pretty pressured. After that, there was an assessment day on Teams, including a team exercise with other candidates, an interview with Bellway’s Commercial Director and a presentation.”
Prior to starting his apprenticeship, George had gained a summer’s experience of labouring for a garden landscaping firm, plus a year of labouring for a local building firm after completing his A-levels. He wanted to get a degree but wanted a more hands-on approach than sitting in lecture theatres five days per week. The Bellway apprenticeship was the ideal solution.
“With the apprenticeship, I’m working towards getting my degree without spending all day every day stuck behind a desk. I’m working with numbers, using analytical and problem-solving skills and gaining extensive professional experience. It’s an excellent opportunity.”
For more information on apprenticeships and careers with Bellway Homes, visit https://www.bellwaycareers.co.