Gaining experience and getting a step on the career ladder is guaranteed for Michael Kimberley, who has his sights set on success within the construction industry.
When reflecting on his journey for National Apprenticeships Week (February 7th-13), he puts his future hopes down to his decision to pursue rewarding apprenticeships within the North West division of Redrow Homes, training parter of SMB College Group.
Michael, 20, from Wigan, is a trainee quantity surveyor, having completed his Level 3 apprenticeship and been ‘promoted’ to Level 4.
He is based at Daresbury from where he will qualify in June 2023, after completing his training during which he spends one week in every six studying at SMB College Group's Stephenson Campus in Coalville, Leicestershire.
Having succeeded in getting A levels in sport, history and biology at St John Rigby College in Orrell, Michael was unsure what to do next.
“I never really wanted to go to university,” he says. “I didn’t want to end up with a student loan when I didn’t even know what course I wanted to do. There was no point doing sport science or history if I was never going to do anything with it.
“I wanted a career that would take me somewhere and would give me a steady path for progression.”
Michael applied for an apprenticeship and spent time in Quantity Surveying and Purchasing before settling on the former. It’s a role which involves keeping track of money spent on site, making sure valuations are correct and tendering to the correct suppliers: “I also deal with teams on site and make sure that everything is running smoothly,” he says, “that we use companies that are reliable and won’t let us down, and provide good materials and workmanship.”
And he says: “I really enjoy it. If I had gone to university and then gone on to be a quantity surveyor or something else to do with construction, I wouldn’t already have the benefit of nearly three years on-the-job experience, which is massive. I’m also earning while I’m learning which is ideal!
“I get on with the people I work with and who offer me so much support, and the split between work and college is great.
“I’m really happy with how I’ve progressed, and I’d like to keep on doing that, and climbing the career ladder. I now have a clear idea of what I want to do and how I do it, and this course and Redrow is very much a part of that.
“My confidence is 100% better, I find speaking to people - on the phone or in person - so much easier, and I’m happy to know I have a good career path in front of me.”