Construction quantity surveying technician and designer with Benchmarx Kitchen & Joinery on rebuilding confidence, worries about AI and design creativity and the joy of being on site
What skills do you feel you’ve developed the most during your apprenticeship?
I’ve become a lot better at managing multiple projects at one time and refining my skills within estimation. My attention to detail has improved and I navigate problems within projects a lot smoother. I also have way more confidence to deal with project holders. They’re usually men, usually older than I am, and it can be quite intimidating. But, through research and learning how to resolve disputes, I’ve built a lot more confidence in dealing with those situations rather than just referring it to managers. That’s been a big, a big benefit from the course.
How has the apprenticeship changed your confidence or your mindset?
I studied architecture at uni, but I lost confidence as it was during Covid. We graduated during 2020, so we were the first year to experience learning online at home. I lost a lot of confidence in my ability, and I doubted the career path that I’d chosen within construction. So being able to achieve a distinction on the apprenticeship course has given me the confidence to re-pursue a career in construction.
How did you come to switching from an architecture to a surveying route?
After Covid, I started a kitchen design apprenticeship that was local to me. Kitchen design felt somewhat close to what I’d been doing: it had the spatial planning, it had the involvement with clients or retail customers, and it gave me the freedom to design, which was the bit that I really enjoyed. The more I was around it, the more I realised being on site and in the actual construction process is what I want to do more, rather than just being sat in the office.
How do you think technology is changing the construction industry?
I think it’s certainly benefiting construction in terms of being able to make projects safer and more efficient. We can predict problems a lot more with the likes of CAD and BIM, and it offers really great collaboration. I think the danger is that we may lose some of our individual creativity. By asking a programme, “output me a house that suits a three-person family”, an automatic output is not necessarily going to be the most functional or the most coherent. I really hope that while technology is advancing that we don’t become lazy, we do design from our own ideas rather than relying on a computer to do it all for us.
What does success in construction look like to you?
Success to me is creating something that’s both beautiful and functional, but also doing so in a manner that is efficient and collaborative. Bringing the vision of the client to life, but making sure that every member of the building process is safe while doing so is the most successful that a project can be. Creating timeless designs that serve the user and community is the best way to get back to the spaces that we’re essentially taking up.
