Anne Lacey is a 16 year old Trainee Quantity Surveyor working at London’s Cyril Sweett Firm. She choose the route of training on the job instead of going to university. Here she explains about her qualifications, choosing the non-uni route and what skills she is picking up along the way.

Background Information

Name: Anne Lacey
Title: Trainee Quantity Surveyor
Age: 16
Firm: Cyril Sweett
Date of expected qualification: 2009/2014

Case Study Questions

1. Please outline what your job role entails & what your responsibilities are

I work as a trainee Quantity Surveyor which involves supporting various project teams within the retail sector. My duties are varied and wide ranging including measuring buildings from drawings or CAD files, preparing data and costs spreadsheets and assisting with cost plans.

2. What made you decide to apply to CSTT?

“I decided to apply to CSTT as the combination of practical and academic learning really appealed to me.”

The Apprenticeship allows me to gain practical experience as a Quantity Surveyor but at the same time gives me the opportunity to undertake academic training. Also, the personal help from CSTT itself is very reassuring. If I am ever stuck they are just a phone call away and are always willing to help.

I believe that at the end of my training scheme I will have gained some excellent work experience and will have a better skills CV compared to that of a full time graduate.

3. Did you have any previous experience of the Surveying industry? (e.g.… work experience, family involved in the profession)?

I was lucky because my Brother-in-law is an Associate Director at Bruce Shaw Partnership in London. He himself qualified via CSTT and therefore was able to gave me a good insight as to what to expect in terms of my Apprenticeship and as well as providing me with some insight about the industry. It was through him that I contacted CSTT.

4. What advice would you have for a young person who may be contemplating the Trust’s Apprenticeship route?

My advice would be to thoroughly research the industry and make sure it is really something that you want to do. Also, you have to be willing to give up some of your spare time for studying. If you have enthusiasm and a good work ethic then you will succeed and the rewards at the end of training will reflect the hard work you have put in.

5. What are the best and the worst parts of your job and why?

One of the best parts is the fact that my job is very sociable. I constantly have to use my inter-personal skills as I am required to liaise with a range of people. It is also very team orientated which allows me to ask questions as well as providing me with the opportunity to interact with highly experienced colleagues.

Because I have just started with my training, I am doing a lot of support work for the team, which at times, can be monotonous. However you have to expect this being a trainee. I am viewing my support role as all part of my learning curve. I am starting at the bottom and working my way up, once I have some qualifications under my belt I hope to be given some more responsibility.

6. Please outline any projects you have been involved in?

Our work changes on a regular basis depending on what work our Partners have won. At the moment I am working on a number of retail projects. So far I have been involved in the Grand Arcade in Cambridge costing in the region of £90 million and due to open in March 2008. It is quite unique as at the top level of the shopping centre there is a Magistrates Court.

At Cyril Sweett you are given a ‘buddy’ to help you settle in when you join the firm. I often help support my mentor with his work assignments and have recently been involved on a shopping redevelopment project called Westgate in Oxford. All my work involves the use of figures and working on spreadsheets, cost plans and checking important documents, so strong attention to detail is required.

7. How do you find holding down a full time job and studying at the same time? How do you go about organising your responsibilities?

Completing a national certificate on day release, an NVQ in my spare time and working 4 days a week is quite demanding but it can be done. You do however need to be dedicated to your Apprenticeship and to be able to manage your time carefully ( i.e. every other weekend I stay in and complete college assignments and NVQ storyboards. I also tend to keep a diary and organise my assignments in order of when they need to be completed by).

8. Where do you envisage yourself to be in 10 years time?

In 10 years time I hope to of completed my degree and be a qualified Chartered Surveyor. Then in the future I am hopeful to become an Associate Director within Cyril Sweett either in London or abroad.