As a multi-disciplinary company, our team bring with them a whole range of skills for their roles within Project Management, Surveying, Energy Assessment and Economic Consultation making us an extremely diverse and dynamic team to work with. London-based apprentice Hamza Bhatti, share his experiences of working at Focus whilst studying at Westminster University.

Q. What is your current role and what does a typical day look like for you?

I began as a Quantity Surveying apprentice at Focus Consultants in September 2021. As I am still relatively new to the industry, I typically assist the senior surveyors on their projects, and look forward to taking on my own projects in due time. By working on a multitude of projects, from Museums to Synagogues, I have already gained an understanding of the various phases of a project lifecycle.

Q. What is it about the position and sector that initially attracted you?

I decided to do an apprenticeship early on so the idea of learning at university while also working to gain experience just felt like a natural choice. The construction industry was the ideal choice as it allows you to explore your creative side. I particularly enjoy the idea of having an active hand in a project’s development, from start to finish.

Q. What excites you about your role?

I find the variety in my work exciting. One day I might be working on a manor house on the outskirts of London, the next I’d be working on one of the oldest houses of worship in London. This variety also gives me insight into what typical day-to-day work as a QS would be.

Q. What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?

One of the challenges for me was understanding the terminology. There are many abbreviations in construction! However, this was soon fixed through attending meetings, working on tender documents and estimates all of which helped me gain an understanding as time went on.

Q. What has been your biggest accomplishment on the job so far?

My biggest achievement so far is how much I’ve progressed since the beginning of my apprenticeship. Early on, I would shadow meetings and get confused quite quickly, which led to many questions afterwards. I’ve gained such an understanding of my work that I now am able to follow everything in meetings and understand any implications it would have on things like the contract, programme etc.

Q. Do you have any advice for other apprentices?

My advice is to use your time as an apprentice to its full extent. You are new to the industry and no one expects you to know everything. This is an opportunity to ask as many questions as you need and learn from your mistakes as you develop in your role.

Q. How are you finding work/life/study balance?

Personally, I find the work/life balance to be manageable, as long as you stay on top of your work. I find that there can be a squeeze towards the end of term time with multiple assignments due within a couple of days of each other. This can be combated by starting your coursework with plenty of time to ask questions and will help reduce overall stress.

Q. What skills/personality are required?

Quantity Surveying can be challenging at times, you will need to be very resilient as you can keep making mistakes. Patience is also a key skill as one small error can lead to a lot of time spent searching and correcting.

Lastly, communication and management skills are a must. You will find yourself dealing with clients, architects and contractors on a daily basis. In order for a project to be a success, you need to be on top of your game.

Q. How have Focus supported you on your journey so far?

Focus have been great at helping me develop throughout my time with them. They allow me to have a diverse understanding of each aspect of Quantity Surveying across all areas of a project. They explain things to me in detail and in a way where I am comfortable asking as many questions as I can.

There have been topics that came up at university that I had learnt at Focus months before, like the RIBA Plan of Work. This meant I was already ahead of the curve and gained further understanding in my course.

Q. What’s student life like at Westminster University?

I attend Westminster University once a week during term time. I have three lectures, each spanning two hours. The atmosphere is lively and fun. I have made many friends, many of whom are apprentices like me, their courses ranging from surveying to architecture. The lectures are interesting and I have plenty of time to interact with others to exchange our experiences.

Q. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

In 5 years’ time, I would have completed my apprenticeship degree, hopefully with a first, and I would be looking to further my knowledge in Quantity Surveying either through a Master’s degree or chartering. Perhaps both!