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21 year old Charlie from Kentish Town started a Level 3 Plumbing Apprenticeship in March 2023 with Woodlands Services based at the HS2 site in Euston.
I initially worked in retail however I had the ambition of following Plumbing as a trade. I came across Euston Skills Centre where the College of North West London’s construction campus was based.
I initially did my Plumbing Diploma Level 1 and moved swiftly on to the Plumbing Level 2 Diploma. My advisor, Altaf assisted me in building my up on my employability skills and profile including creating a CV and cover letter, completing interview skills sessions and most importantly helping me to obtain my CSCS card.
The Euston Skills Centre forwarded me for the Plumbing apprenticeship with Woodlands Services which included helping me complete the CSCS revision for me to obtain my CSCS card and allowing me a chance to work on a construction site. Through the revision, I learnt a great amount in relation to the importance of health and safety working on site, thereby minimising the risk of hazards and injuries in order to work safely and efficiently.
My advisor at the time, Altaf assisted me to draft and finalise my CV and cover letters which was forwarded on to Woodlands Services and thereafter I secured an interview for the Plumbing Apprenticeship. I underwent thorough preparation including Interview skills sessions with my advisor and researching about the employer and what Plumbing Apprenticeships entail. I learnt the importance of preparing well for interviews and gained valuable experience on how to deliver answers against competencies during an interview. My interview with Woodlands went very well and I have not looked back ever since.
I am currently studying NVQ Level 3 in Plumbing which mainly involves working on pipework, fixes and connections, bathrooms, heaters and boilers. I’ve also managed to learn further health and study principles relating specifically to Plumbing which defers from the CSCS. My course also addresses plumbing works relating to site construction and residential/commercial buildings thereby enabling me to gain further exposure and experience in different aspects of plumbing.
I reached a point where I wanted to pursue Plumbing as a career however I struggled to find the right college and employment service to help me reach my goal. I eventually came across Euston Skills Centre and I met with my employment advisor Altaf. I leant of the education and skills required to progress as a Plumbing apprentice and also the importance of the CSCS card and how this would enable me to gain access to a Construction site. After finding out the full pathway to become a Plumbing apprentice, I made a career defining choice and enrolled on to the Plumbing Diploma course with the assistance of Euston Skills Centre.
Working collaborative within a great team on site and also working independently as required to the best of my ability. It is an intensive course however I am progressing well with the assistance of great tutors and my site manager.
I am also enjoying the combination of working on site and studying at a great college.
I hope to successfully complete my Plumbing apprenticeship and my long term ambition is to eventually open up my own Plumbing business. I am keen to study and expand further within green skills and retrofit as the future of Plumbing is leaning into this direction.
Ali, aged 21 and from York Way, works for Marlborough Highways and is studying a Level 6 degree apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying.
Before starting my apprenticeship I was doing an economics University degree and working part time. Around the same time that I enrolled for University I also met with Altaf, my advisor at the Kings Cross Construction Skills centre (the now Euston Skills Centre) where I wanted to explore the Apprenticeship route ideally in Quantity Surveying. I found out about Kings Cross Construction (the now Euston Skills Centre) through my Connexions advisor who put me in touch with Altaf. I was in a position where I wanted to explore different avenues.
I have learnt many skills during my first few months, such as: Measuring sites and getting familiar with pricing of materials, Using excel spreadsheets to calculate costs/revenue, placing purchasing orders to subcontractors for works they carry out and finalising accounts for jobs we have completed. I have also gained exposure to different work environments via site visits and tours. So far the apprenticeship has exceeded my expectations and I am enjoying every moment of it.
Before I started this apprenticeship I had a lack of direction, I did not know what I wanted to do in the long term, thankfully finding this apprenticeship has given me a sense of purpose and direction and I have long term goals within my role that I want to achieve. Prior to starting this apprenticeship with Marlborough Highways, I was actually in the first year of a Degree based in Southbank University. My main ambition was to pursue an opportunity which was work based and that also involved a study towards a qualification and the best route for this was via an Apprenticeship. After obtaining my CSCS card and building on my employability skills with the help of my advisor Altaf, I was then presented this Quantity Suveryor Apprenticeship with Marlborough Highways which Kings Cross Construction (the now Euston Skills Centre) set an interview for me. After being successful, I made the career changing decision to leave my degree early in the first year to commence the Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship. I believe this to be the best and most important decision in my career so far as this was initially met with scepticism from family and friends however the opportunity and hard work has paid off
My favourite part of my role is either taking up measures onsite or drafting up final accounts. Also, my work environment is great so just being around my colleges is also enjoyable.
I personally want to thank Altaf Jandally, my advisor for allowing my transition into a degree apprenticeship as smooth as possible. From the first possible step (improving my CV, taking my CSCS test and constantly providing available apprenticeships to apply for) until the very last step of securing my apprenticeship he guided me through it. The facilities at Kings Cross Construction (the now Euston Skills Centre) were fantastic and I felt enabled me to progress with the CSCS course and Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction Environment Award. The rest of the staff at the centre were always friendly and helpful. I also felt the encouragement from Altaf and the team to follow my ambition and make the career defining choice of leaving my degree early to pursue this Degree Apprenticeship with Marlborough Highways.
By the end of my course I want to be a fully qualified QS with a degree and hopefully start the process in becoming a Charted Quantity Surveyor.