Job overview

Quantity surveyors are at the heart of London's growth, transforming our infrastructure. We need the next generation of quantity surveyors to develop solutions for the London’s challenges, from mass urbanisation to diminishing resources. You'll work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure value for money is being achieved.

As a quantity surveyor, you’ll work within a project team to upgrade our infrastructure (which dates back to 1863), whilst ensuring we deliver an efficient service. As we look to modernise our assets, you'll be involved in projects which extend our network,  improve our station capacity, purchase new trains and buses to enhance customer experience, improve the reliability of the network via technology updates, reduce times between services and developing new entrances in stations to reduce congestion and support London’s population.

What will I be doing?

As an apprentice, your five and a half year development programme will be made up of up to seven placement rotations. Our aim is to equip you with the range of skills and experience you need for your successful career. We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every apprentice’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:

Year 1

Placement 1 - Road Improvements - Surface Directorate - 6 months – Reviewing a feasibility report on changing a section of London road to a pedestrian route only. Creating a cost plan and budget to understand if these works are a business priority, engaging an expert engineer to check the influence of removing a road from the London network.

Placement 2 - Procurement Team – Commercial and Finance Directorate - 6 months - Writing a procurement strategy for new signalling equipment on the Metropolitan line, undertaking early market engagement and checking what technology improvements are available, writing an ‘invitation to tender’, commencing a procurement and advertising the works to potential bidders.

Year 2

Placement 1 - Accessibility Programme â€“ 6 months – Reviewing and negotiating change via contract admin.  Reviewing and approving month applications.  Cost reporting and forecasting.

Placement 2 - Track Maintenance – Operations Directorate - 6 months - Reviewing a train requirement after technical inspection, placing an order to repair a part/section of track on our network, paying a contractor who has completed the works or repairs.

After your first two years on the scheme, the six monthly placements will move to yearly placements.

Where can this career take me?

On completion of your Level 6 apprenticeship, you’ll gain a Degree in Quantity Surveying along with an accreditation and full professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). Apprentices tend to become Commercial Managers or Senior Commercial Managers.

The skills you develop during your apprenticeship are highly transferrable to specialisms including Project Management, Dispute and Dispute Resolution Professionals, Forensic Planning and Cost Analysis, Contract Administration and opening your own practice.

MRICS status is worldwide, not just UK based, making this a truly international opportunity.

What training and support will you get?

You’ll be working towards a Level 6 qualification as a Chartered Surveyor.  Typically, you will be required to attend university once a week.

Whilst on the scheme, we’ll support your technical development through a wide range of on-the-job practical experiences and placements.  We’ll also support your professional development through a combination of classroom-led training courses, online training courses, mentoring opportunities and structured networking opportunities. You’ll receive one-to-one support throughout the programme from your scheme sponsor and your Line Manager. You’ll also be connected to a ‘buddy’ who’ll be a more experienced apprentice from the scheme. 

We also have an established Graduate and Apprentice Committee as well as an Alumni group, these groups are powerful networks in developing your understanding of the organisation, different apprenticeship schemes and opportunities to develop your career. Many current graduates and apprentices believe this to be a powerful support network and they often hold apprentice only events that are very beneficial to your continued learning.