Antoinette Campbell – A Journey into Quantity Surveying

I started off studying construction and the built environment in HNC and eventually one of my lecturers mentioned to me that she thinks that I would excel in a quantity surveying role, so she suggested me doing an apprenticeship and that's how I got involved. After doing some research I realised that with the apprenticeship I would get the chance to develop my skills while doing the role and I felt like that was the best option to me for me because I'm a very hands-on person and I learn better when I'm actually doing the job myself.

I'm in year three at the moment and I do find the experience of the apprenticeship very rewarding. Each year it feels like I'm reaching a different milestone and that has made me realise that I am learning and I am able to apply whatever skills I'm learning to my job role. Some of the skills that I've learned are to put cost estimates together. Before the apprenticeship I was not able to do that confidently by myself. Another valuable skill that I've developed is the fact that I can communicate confidently with other stakeholders within construction projects and also I can now work under pressure and even provide good quality work while working under um such pressure.

My experience with the apprenticeship, it involves a lot of learning, a lot of long nights and a lot of early mornings. It hasn't been easy but I am feeling very accomplished after completing an assessment, submitting my assessments and even getting my grades. I do find that all that hard work is it is actually paying off.

The advice that I would give someone who's considering an apprenticeship in quantity surveying is to definitely go for it because not only do you get the opportunity to learn about the role at uni you also get the opportunity to develop the skills that you need to excel within your career on the job and that can benefit anyone.

Antoinette is a trainee quantity surveyor currently pursuing the chartered quantity surveying course at Birmingham City University. Her path into quantity surveying was not initially planned — she started with an HNC in Construction and the Built Environment. However, one of her lecturers recognised her potential and encouraged her to consider a career in quantity surveying.

"My lecturer said that she thinks that I would excel in a quantity surveying role," Antoinette recalls. This suggestion led her to explore the field further, and after conducting her own research, she realised that an apprenticeship would provide the perfect balance of education and hands-on experience.

For Antoinette, theory alone was not enough — she thrives in hands-on environments. This made the apprenticeship structure ideal for her learning style. "I would get the chance to develop my skills while doing the role, and I felt like that was the best option for me," she explains.

Her apprenticeship allows her to work while learning, reinforcing new skills through real-world applications. She highlights how immersive learning suits her better than traditional education alone: "I'm a very hands-on person, and I learn better when I'm actually doing the job myself."

Now in her third year of the apprenticeship, Antoinette reflects on how much she has grown. Every year marks a milestone, proving her continuous development. She describes her progress with enthusiasm: "Each year it feels like I'm reaching a different milestone, and that has made me realise that I am learning and I am able to apply whatever skills I'm learning to my job role."

Some of the most valuable skills she has gained include:

Cost Estimation: "Before the apprenticeship, I was not able to do that confidently by myself."
Stakeholder Communication: "I can communicate confidently with other stakeholders within construction projects."
Working Under Pressure: "I can now work under pressure and even provide good quality work while working under such pressure."

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Despite the challenges, she finds the apprenticeship rewarding. Balancing work and study means long nights and early mornings, but the hard work is worthwhile: "It hasn't been easy, but I am feeling very accomplished after completing an assessment, submitting my assessments, and even getting my grades."

Antoinette acknowledges the support she receives from her university lecturers. They understand the complexities of juggling work and education, offering flexibility when needed: "They understand that you have quite a busy schedule because you're juggling both work and your studies.”

For anyone considering an apprenticeship in quantity surveying, Antoinette is confident in her recommendation: "Definitely go for it."

She emphasises the value of combining education with real-world experience: "Not only do you get the opportunity to learn about the role at university, you also get the opportunity to develop the skills that you need to excel within your career on the job, and that can benefit anyone."

Her story highlights how apprenticeships provide a unique and rewarding path into quantity surveying. Through hard work, determination, and the support of mentors, she has built a strong foundation for her future career.