Junior Quantity Surveyor Review

As we were the first ever virtual placement cohort you would tend to believe the placement experience would be completely different. However, this wasn't the case as I was able to obtain the same level of exposure as previous cohorts with the only difference being it was virtual rather than face to face. I found the balance to be really good at National Grid. I had plenty to do but never felt overwhelmed. There were always opportunities for training on a wide variety of topics. It was good to see how these topics then aligned to our daily job roles within the company.

I think the skills I have gained so far this year will definitely be useful for the rest of my degree and beyond. I feel that National Grid is a company that is really focused on development. I found the training courses organized by the Academy to be really interesting and provide a number of relevant skills which will be very useful for me in the future. The new skills which i developed were learning to work virtually and this helped me become more independent and allowed me to learn things in a different environment.

So far I been given a little bit of responsibility which at this stage of my career has been useful and about the right amount. I have been able to attend a variety of different meetings on a variety of different topics. I have also been given the responsibility of a few different tasks that the team needed to complete. I am also due to start my own project and be the assigned Quantity Surveyor for the project which shows a real investment into m development from National Grid.

The support given by the company is excellent. I meet with my line manager regularly to discuss where I am. I'm currently shadowing a more senior QS which I have found to be a really positive experience where I have gained a lot of knowledge. In addition, we are allocated a Business Coordinator who can assist us with day to day admin tasks which has been useful.

I would go on frequent site visits and the office was always filled with individuals who checked up on how you were doing but did not cross the line where it became patronizing. There was always adequate DSE to ensure safety of everyone working in the office was maintained. The atmosphere itself was always light and never too overbearing which was nice. In conjunction to that point, the office did not have any individuals who made my time in the office uncomfortable or difficult.

I have found the industrial placement to be extremely enjoyable primarily down to the vast range of things you get up to, including things such as visiting sites, volunteering, training events and working with your team to perform well. National Grid provides endless opportunities for individuals to grow and take on challenges which in itself is an enjoyment.

Yes

Work in line with the National Grid values; Everyday we do the right thing, Everyday we find a better way, Make it happen. Most of all don't be afraid of being yourself and giving it everything you have!