Sam Orrell MRICS shares his journey from Apprentice to Associate at DALBERGIA, reflecting on how the Chartered Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship shaped his career. Starting with no prior construction experience, he gained hands-on exposure to live projects while studying for his degree and building practical skills along the way.
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I started the Chartered Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship at the age of 20, joining Dalbergia as an Apprentice with no prior experience of working in the construction sector. Choosing the apprenticeship route was an easy decision for me, it offered the opportunity to gain real-world experience alongside studying for a degree, while also removing the worry of student debt and uncertainty around finding work after graduation.
Balancing full-time work with studying was made manageable thanks to the support provided by Dalbergia. I was given dedicated weekly study time through my university days and always had access to senior members of the team for guidance and advice. This level of support made a huge difference throughout the programme.
Studying with University College of Estate Management, the flexibility of having all modules and resources available online allowed me to take ownership of my learning and fit my studies around both work and personal commitments. The structure worked extremely well alongside full-time employment.
One of the biggest benefits of the apprenticeship was being involved in live projects from the outset. Early site exposure is often undervalued in the industry, yet it played a key role in my development. During my time on the apprenticeship, I was also able to gain experience across Fund Monitoring, Project Management and Quantity Surveying, which has diversified my skillset and broadened the service I can now offer to clients.
Both Dalbergia and UCEM were invaluable during the APC process, providing support, mock interviews and guidance that helped me pass first time. The apprenticeship laid the foundations of my career, and now nearly 8 years on from when I started at Dalbergia I’m very proud of my achievements progression within the business, most recently being promoted to Associate in November last year. I’d like to thank Simon Burke, Jon Thorn and Richard Sharpe for their support and guidance throughout the apprenticeship, and the continuing trust they have placed in me as I’ve developed in recent years.
The Chartered Apprenticeship route is a fantastic way to build a secure, well-rounded career whilst gaining a degree at the same time. I would recommend it to anyone considering a career in Quantity Surveying or another discipline within the Built Environment.
