Job spotlight: technical apprentice, Berkeley Group

What attracted you to your apprenticeship?

Berkeley Group has a partnership with my school and has been promoting apprenticeships, hosting various employability events and insight days for us at Oval Village in Lambeth.

It was through this involvement that I was really drawn to this apprenticeship with Berkeley. It gave me the chance to build real experience while studying, which felt like the perfect balance for me.

Joining a well-known company so early in my career was something I was excited about, and I knew it would give me a strong start. 

During my T Level in construction, I took part in a competition with Berkeley St Edward, where I created a video about why I love the built environment. The experience helped me secure my T Level placement at Oval Village.

Being on site and seeing how a project comes together confirmed that this was the route I wanted to take, so progressing into an apprenticeship felt like a natural next step. 

Can you tell us about your day-to-day responsibilities?

I now work closely with the design team and my responsibilities have grown quickly.

I review architectural floor plans and detailed packages, including wardrobes, doors and window schedules, and I’ve created tracking systems to monitor apartment finishes. 

I also develop handover trackers using information gathered on site. This helps the team keep an accurate view of progress and make sure each element meets the project requirements.

What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship, and what has been the biggest challenge?

What I enjoy most is taking on tasks and responsibilities where I genuinely contribute to a project.

The apprenticeship has allowed me to grow my knowledge, gain confidence in my role and get a clearer sense of where I want to specialise.

I’ve also loved being able to share my journey with students who are at the start of theirs, something I never imagined I’d get to do so early on.

My team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, which has made a huge difference in how comfortable I feel coming into work every day.

My biggest challenge was indeed adjusting to the structure of a full-time working environment. At first it was a big change from school, but the team’s support helped me settle in and feel like part of the Oval family.

Another person from my school, Gisele, has followed in my footsteps and started her technical apprenticeship with Berkeley this September. I am her mentor, and I’m really enjoying our sessions together. It’s very rewarding.

What is the most valuable skill you’ve gained so far?

One of the most valuable skills I’ve gained is a much deeper understanding of the construction industry, how everything fits together and how large-scale developments are coordinated. 

I’ve also learned to step out of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to communicating with colleagues, consultants and wider site teams. 

On top of that, I’ve developed stronger attention to detail as I’ve taken on more responsibility and recognised how critical accuracy is in this field.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term career goals?

Looking to the future, I’d love to keep progressing within Berkeley and build a career in technical management. My next step is completing my level 6 degree, which will support my development and open up further opportunities. 

In the long term, I aspire to work my way up to technical director.

Are you looking for top construction talent? Want to get ahead of the competition? Contact Sophie Holland at CIOB Jobs.