Workplace

NG Bailey, one of the UK’s largest building services providers, is tackling the shortage of quantity surveyors head-on with its commercial apprenticeship.

The scheme was set up in October 2005 with Leeds College of Building and Leeds Met University. Alison Ashworth-Brown, head of the Bailey Engineering Academy, says: “The course is designed to appeal to A-level students and employees in other areas of the business who want to move into quantity surveying without having to go back to full-time education.”

Arranged by block release, the course gives students hands-on experience alongside a foundation degree in quantity surveying. They earn a salary throughout the scheme and NG Bailey pays for the academic element.

Ashworth-Brown says: “This is an ideal route for people who want to further their education, without having to take out large student loans – and you get the benefits of working for a large national company.”

Even so, quantity surveying isn't always the first career choice for many, so NG Bailey has had to work hard to attract people.

“When we set up the course, we wanted a wide range of students, so we used a combination of recruitment techniques to attract both A-level-age students and employees already working within the business,” says Ashworth-Brown. "We contacted Connexions, a careers advice service, as well as careers advisers at colleges and schools to make them aware of the course and employment route.

"The course was also advertised in local press, student careers magazines and internally within the business. Details were placed on the NG Bailey website, which many potential employees and apprentices visit."

In the course’s first year, nine male students joined, five of whom already worked in the business. However, in 2006, seven of the 16-strong intake came from outside the business and six were female.

Ashworth-Brown says: “The quantity surveying student apprenticeship is proving to be a real success and is gaining popularity among females. It has the largest number of women on it of all our apprenticeships.”

The course was initially planned to span four years, but the first group is likely to complete it within three, meaning they’ll graduate in September 2008. They can then pursue a career at NG Bailey or go on to become fully chartered, which would involve undertaking a “top-up” foundation degree and the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence course. However, NG Bailey is looking at integrating the NVQ Level Four in quantity surveying into the programme, which would mean future students would be Tec RICS qualified on completion.

Ashworth-Brown says: “The course equips apprentices with a good choice of career options, and the ability to progress personally and professionally.”