Meet Mateusz, aspiring Quantity Surveyor on Heathrow’s Shared Apprenticeship Scheme!

Mateusz Powazka is currently part of Heathrow’s Shared Apprenticeship Scheme, where he is pursuing a quantity surveying apprenticeship with VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd .

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mateusz to learn more about his experiences, and the impact of his apprenticeship on his career development and aspirations.

Read on to hear from Mateusz himself!

What made you want to do an apprenticeship??

“It may sound cliché but the opportunity to work and study simultaneously, while gaining my academic qualifications, was the main reason that I wanted to explore apprenticeships.”

How did you come across Heathrow's Shared Apprenticeship Scheme

“I came across this opportunity through Indeed. Within a couple days of applying, I received a phone call from K10 Apprenticeships Limited , discussing my application, the role requirements and some eligibility questions. After the telephone interview, I was invited to have an in-person introduction with K10. The rest of the process consisted of two in-person interviews, followed by a final stage interview with representatives from VolkerFitzpatrick. The interview process was very smooth and well managed by K10! From day one, I’ve continually received the support necessary and would highly recommend K10 and the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme to future apprentices.”?

How do you find the balance between working and studying?

“A healthy split between working and studying was a little difficult to establish at first, but soon became easier with support from K10, VolkerFitzpatrick, and my college. It is important to confirm your dedicated college day and communicate this with your team, who can support and cover work in your absence. The college units also align well with projects in my workplace, so there are multiple learning opportunities that can be implemented into my college studies. Ultimately, it is all about time management. Learning to manage your own time and workload is essential for a healthy split of working, studying and socialising.”

?What do you do in your day-to-day role as a Quantity Surveyor Apprentice??

“My day-to-day tasks vary all the time. In a short summary, I take care of change management. So, this is essentially managing changes that affect the scope of works, which could be due to supplier or labour delays, changes in material costs, or changes to the design of the project itself. Naturally, there is a lot of admin work associated with my role, but there are also opportunities to participate in meetings with clients, sub-contractors, and internal colleagues. For me, every day is a new day of learning. The exposure that I have had is indescribable and I truly appreciate the position I have been placed in.”

What are your plans for when you finish your current apprenticeship?

“I am currently completing my Level 4 apprenticeship (HNC) in Quantity Surveying. Afterwards I will be looking for further career development opportunities in this sector. Provided the opportunity, I would love to complete my degree while working with VolkerFitzpatrick. This will allow me to further develop my skills and attributes, whilst continuing to gain valuable experiences at work.”

Is there anything that you have found challenging during your apprenticeship and if so, how did you overcome it?

“I believe this has been the work-life balance. I have always been driven to give 100% to any job I’m involved in, which can gradually assume your personal life! However, due to the support from the team, work doesn’t feel like a chore, and I am excited to be in every day! The team work hard in a collaborative manner, and we occasionally enjoy team days out which are great."

"Because I am driven to become an asset to the business, I am happy to go above and beyond in my role to gain valuable experience and show the team my abilities. As a result, VolkarFitzpatrick have placed a lot of faith in me and provided me with a lot of responsibility so that I can grow in the workplace. I am receiving a great amount of support, especially from my line mangers, both at VolkerFitzpatrick and K10, which removes a lot of stress, as I know there are always people to provide support and guidance.”?

What advice would you give someone who’s considering an apprenticeship?

“The foundation of being successful stems from doing something you enjoy. If you’re not doing something you enjoy, it will be very difficult to stay engaged. It is important to remember that not every day is easy and not every day is the same. You need to be comfortable in challenging yourself.? Keep asking questions and keep being curious, as you will learn so much more through asking questions. Final advice is to be confident in yourself. It is very easy to feel out of place, however, you need to understand that you’ve made it where you are for a reason, so be confident in your skills and abilities, and you will not look back!”

If Mateusz's experiences resonate with you and you would like to find out about the apprenticeship opportunities that are currently available, please visit: https://www.heathrowacademy.co.uk/vacancies/vacancy-search-results.aspx. For any further enquiries, please email: [email protected] or the K10 team directly at: [email protected].?