With the 15th National Apprenticeship Week taking place this week, Dan Beadle, Assistant Contracts/Commercial Manager at Pexhurst, answers some questions about his apprenticeship journey at the company.
Q1: Why did you decide on an apprenticeship rather than going to university?
Like lots of young people I didn’t want to have to pay for a degree, I wanted to earn some money whilst working and see what roles were out there that I might be interested in. I joined Pexhurst’s Apprenticeship Scheme as a trainee construction manager in 2018. My place on the scheme was subject to my A-level grades. I took Product Design, Business and Geography at A-Level and luckily managed to achieve the grades needed to gain my place on the scheme.
Q2: What did your apprenticeship entail at Pexhurst?
At first, I shadowed roles to get a good understanding of how the business worked. Then I quickly took on more responsibility in terms of communicating with sub-contractors and managing health and safety on site. In 2020 I was promoted to Assistant Site Manager after completing my HNC Construction Management course to Distinction level. In August last year I was promoted again to Assistant Contracts/Commercial Manager.
Q3: What are the benefits of an apprenticeship?
I am always meeting new people, so I have gained a huge amount of on-the-job experience since I started the Apprenticeship Scheme. Being able to work alongside so many different professionals has been amazing. I have been able to learn about all the different roles within Pexhurst and the construction industry as a whole. Being able to earn whilst studying and gaining first-hand experience of business has provided me with the perfect kick-start to a great career. What you get to see in terms of processes in the workplace is priceless. An apprenticeship is an excellent pathway if you want a career but don’t wish, for whatever reason, to take the university route.
Q4: What learning and development opportunities have you undertaken to progress into the role you have today?
I am currently studying for a BSc in Construction Management which I have 18 months left to do before I complete it. A further goal following this would be to become Chartered. I have one day away from Pexhurst a week to study for my degree. I would say working whilst studying has been really useful. I have been able to bring practical examples into the classroom to back up the theories we are looking at. Alongside my degree I have taken professional accredited courses to give me qualifications that help with my day-to-day role and ensure that my training and knowledge is always up to date.
Q5: What do you enjoy about your current role at Pexhurst?
My current role is so varied, no two jobs are ever the same. My job is to ensure that projects are completed on time, safely and to the highest standards. The team at Pexhurst gave me responsibility from day one. This helped to massively improve my confidence. There was always someone there to help if I needed it, but giving me the ability to make my own decisions has helped me improve my decision-making skills. I can see a difference in myself looking back over the years that I have worked at Pexhurst and see how much I have grown into the roles I have been given. You face real life problems and learn to solve them; this is a huge confidence booster.
Q6: What advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
This is an excellent route to take if you are looking for a career. It can give you the kick-start you have been looking for. There are so many different routes you can take once you begin your apprenticeship, you can study different modules depending on what you find interesting, there is the ability to move around roles within a business. Being able to watch and learn means you get to see what a role entails; you can then decide if it is the job for you.
Pexhurst has always supported me in my journey. They really champion their trainees. If you find the right company who are willing to support you through an Apprenticeship Scheme, I would say do it. I am so glad I made that decision four years ago.
Q7: How do you entice younger people into a career in the construction sector?
I have learned that this sector has clear paths of progression. If you are looking for a career this is an exciting sector to be in because there are so many varied roles and roles that didn’t exist just a few years ago because of tech developments. Site surveys are now being carried out by drones, different methods of construction and the development of new material means this is a sector which is always evolving. Sustainability is now a big part of the industry so if that interests someone there are now roles that just focus on this area.
This is definitely an industry that can attract younger people so we need to make sure that we tell people about it and demonstrate how diverse roles within the sector truly are.
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