Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Harvey
Harvey joined Hycom in October 2024 as an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor. In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, and a few months into his role, we caught up with Harvey to see how he's progressing.
"My first few months as an apprentice have been really good. I’ve settled into the team well. Everyone’s super welcoming, and the office is a great place to work. I also like the 8am - 4pm schedule because it gives my week some structure and lets me finish early, which is a nice bonus.
I’ve picked up a lot of new skills, especially on the computer, using CAD and QuickEye for measurements. I’ve also learned Quotient and can now create quotes from start to finish, as well as using Pipedrive, our project management software. I enjoy learning new things, and there’s always something different to get stuck into, which keeps me busy and engaged.
One of the biggest challenges has been juggling multiple quotes and projects when things get busy. But, I know that as I gain more experience, I’ll get better at handling that and managing my workload more efficiently.
I’d say my confidence has grown a lot. I can now make decisions on my own and feel good about them, whether it’s calling suppliers or customers to clarify details or making sales calls. I also feel much more confident in the work I produce.
I’ve had the chance to go on-site a couple of times. Before Christmas, I did a site survey with Gavin (our MD), and I also travelled up to Peterborough to do a measure for the LNER train services, which was an exciting experience.
I’ve also gained experience dealing with contractors. If they call, I help with their queries, get labour prices from them, book hotels, and order equipment while liaising with them. I speak to our suppliers regularly and even recognise some of them by name when I call or email. I’m also in regular contact with clients - from quoting them initially to following up for more information and handling any variations or queries once their quote is completed."
Harvey is completing his apprenticeship through Gloucestershire College. Over the past few years, Hycom has taken on several apprentices, including our current Office Manager - Jessica Marchant. It's very important to the company to be able to support young people in this way and help them create a career for themselves. An apprenticeship is ideal for those who want to start their career by combining the classroom learning with real-world experience.
Finally, a few words from Hycom's MD - Gavin Flynn: "As an employer we are very excited to give Harvey this opportunity. He's a real asset to the team and we are excited to see his progression and provide the support he needs to become a truly great Quantity Surveyor."
