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Apprentice of the month: ‘Get involved in absolutely everything you can’
CM Staff
The trainee surveyor at Higgins Partnership is CIOB’s July apprentice of the month.
What made you choose this industry?
For A-levels I did maths, economics and geography and I felt they pointed towards the built environment. I’ve always been really interested in property and land use and surveying encompassed all of it.
What technological advances in the sector are you most excited about?
Drones are really exciting, especially as a training surveyor. When I do my valuations there might come a time where I won’t have to walk about on site and I could use a drone to show me what I want to look at – or even if the drones were to have measurement technology so you could do all your valuations from wherever you are.
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Olivia Mills: “It’s really satisfying to see all the hard work actually manifest into something.”
What would be your dream project to work on in the future?
I’d like to do some really luxury high-end hotel builds. Being able to look at it from much more of a quality point of view than a cost point of view as well would be really nice.
One piece of advice that you would give to someone enrolling onto a construction apprenticeship?
Get involved in absolutely everything you can, whether it be going up the crane or going on site.
Also, be really patient with yourself. There’s so much knowledge that you’ve got to have. I’m 20 years old and I’m competing with people that have been doing construction exclusively for 20 years.
What are your future career ambitions?
Within the next 15 years to reach being a commercial manager. I’d have to go now from being a trainee to an assistant to surveyor, senior surveyor, regional surveyor and commercial manager.
I think that’s quite realistic. Depending on my experience, I’d probably quite like to start my own company, whether in surveying as a consultant, or as a subcontractor. Find a little niche in the market.
What is your favourite stage of a project and why is that your favourite bit?
My favourite is approaching completion. It’s really satisfying to see all the hard work actually manifest into something.
Obviously you have so many issues and problems that you have to go through during the whole process, but actually seeing it all come together at the end is all worthwhile.
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