Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

Monday 10 February 2025, marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week. This week-long celebration brings together businesses and apprentices across the UK to shine a light on the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses, and the wider economy.

Apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity to develop work skills, gain valuable on-site experience, and acquire first-hand industry knowledge. The construction industry skills gap has been widely discussed, so there’s never been a better time to gain hands-on experience alongside seasoned professionals, whilst also gaining qualifications.

Stace has supported apprentices for decades, and we have a number of Partners and senior team members who started their careers as apprentices with us.

With 25 apprentices currently working across the business, and in honour of National Apprentice Week, we wanted to hear from some of them about what they’ve learned.

What attracted you to an apprenticeship in the construction industry?

“I was attracted by the logistics and planning into projects, as well as the versatility of the industry, one day you could be on site and another day speaking with clients or contractors.”
Freddie Williams, Trainee Quantity Surveyor

“It allows hands-on experience in the industry whilst studying for a degree, creating a pathway for rewarding career opportunities in the industry.”
Matthew Holmes, Quantity Surveyor

Why did you choose to take the apprenticeship route?

“The reason I chose the apprenticeship route was to gain hands-on experience in the construction industry while simultaneously building a strong foundation of knowledge through my academic studies.”
Freddie Sperrin, Trainee Building Surveyor

“Choosing the apprenticeship route was a logical decision for me. I wanted to gain practical experience while also obtaining the academic qualifications necessary for my career. The mix of studying and on-the-job learning has worked really well for me, giving me the best of both worlds. These two aspects complement each other perfectly, with the practical experience enhancing my academic understanding and vice versa.”
Sasha Ellam-Brown, Assistant Building Surveyor

What valuable skills have you learned so far during your apprenticeship?

“I’ve learnt a significant amount of technical information throughout my university course. Whilst working at Stace, I get the opportunity to implement this knowledge into my day-to-day job and use it on my projects. I’ve learned how to be confident during my apprenticeship, and gained the ability to speak to my clients, and not be afraid to say something if I believe I know the right answer or have an idea or solution to a problem.”
Charlotte Mahoney, Trainee Project Manager

How has the support from mentors and colleagues helped you?

“The knowledge I have today is largely thanks to the support from my mentor and colleagues. While you learn a lot on the job, you gain even more by being surrounded by people you can question and learn from. They are the ones that make this job enjoyable.”
Sasha Ellam-Brown, Assistant Building Surveyor

“My colleagues have consistently supported me throughout my apprenticeship. Whether it’s work-related or related to university, they have always been there to offer their help and guidance.”
Thomas Coates, Trainee Quantity Surveyor

How have the projects you’ve worked on shaped your apprenticeship experience?

“Throughout my apprenticeship, I have worked on various projects. I began working on Strawberry Fields Retirement Village as the project was entering the contract phase, which allowed me to see how a tender process is held and conducted. Following this, I observed the project through the construction process and its first sectional completion. This experience has allowed me to understand a project’s process from tender through to construction, including on-site work. Additionally, I am involved in several other projects currently in the design stage, which have given me experience across all RIBA stages of a project.”
Charlotte Mahoney, Trainee Project Manager

“The projects I worked on during my apprenticeship helped me significantly and made my experience easier. By learning skills in a real-world environment, I was able to apply this knowledge to my university assessments, which greatly helped me.”
Matthew Holmes, Quantity Surveyor

What advice would you give to others considering an apprenticeship?

“If you are looking to gain qualifications while progressing your career, an apprenticeship is an ideal opportunity for this. The apprenticeship is a great way to gain technical knowledge which you can apply in your day to day job. The apprenticeship also is a great route to chartership with RICS. Qualifications and experience are equally important and the apprenticeship allows you to gain both of these simultaneously.”
Samuel Appleby, Assistant Project Manager

“Go for it! Why wouldn’t you want to learn, earn, and intern all at once? An apprenticeship sets you apart by giving you both education and practical experience, so you’re starting your career with an edge over others who may only have academic qualifications. Plus, you gain exceptional skills without accumulating debt—a huge benefit in today’s world.”
Rosie Jackson, HR & Learning Development Advisor

If you would like to apply for an apprenticeship with Stace, please visit our Apprenticeships page for more information.