Joining SSE as an quantity surveyor apprentice
Sam talks about his experience so far as a quanitity surveyor apprentice at SSE Renewables.
What made you choose a quanity surveyor apprenticeship with SSE?
When exploring career options, I initially considered the engineering sector, as I’ve always been interested in how things are designed, built, and maintained.
I was particularly drawn to offshore oil and gas engineering due to its technical challenges and the scale of operations involved. However, after researching the construction and energy industries more broadly, I became drawn to quantity surveying-based apprenticeships - especially within the renewables sector due to it’s fast paced growth and demand. SSE Renewables Offshore Wind stood out to me because it combines large-scale infrastructure with the urgent global need for clean energy, with one solution being Doggerbank Windfarm – due to be the world’s largest constructed & operational windfarm. The opportunity to work as an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor within SSE Renewables Offshore Wind appealed to me because it offers hands-on experience in managing costs, contracts, and procurement on complex, large-scale projects. I was particularly drawn to the responsibility the role carries in ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and within budget - skills that are vital in the successful delivery of renewable energy infrastructure. The apprenticeship provides a structured pathway to develop both technical & commercial knowledge while contributing to real-world outcomes while learning from those with a wealth of personal knowledge – thus providing experience that a full-time university student could only dream of. Being part of a team that supports the transition to clean energy, while learning directly from experienced professionals, made this role the ideal choice for my career development.
Do you have any advice for students considering applying for the SSE Apprenticeship Programmes?
For those searching for their next step as a school leaver or a new career path, the key to success in acceptance is persistence – with this statement not being limited to SSE apprenticeships strictly. With the massive demand for roles like this the processes can seem daunting, however if it is really something you care about, the tasks like aptitude tests, assessment centres & presentation days, which SSE use can be seen as a perfect way to distinguish yourself from the crowd, all of these give you a perfect opportunity to display your research and understanding of what you are applying for, but mainly allows you to show confidence and willingness, which assessors will – in my opinion – be more impressed with than poorly & dully presented facts and info. They also allow you to show how you communicate, work with others, and think on your feet—skills that are difficult to capture on paper. Speaking clearly, actively contributing, and arguably most importantly, taking the lead and organising tasks all signal enthusiasm and a proactive attitude. Even if you feel nervous, showing up prepared and giving your best effort reflects a strong commitment to the role and a genuine interest in learning which are all factors which can set you apart from the competition.
Tell us a bit about your experience on the apprenticeship programme, including any placement highlights and opportunities?
Almost 2 years on from my first day at SSE I have gone from just taking small admin tasks from busy team members to taking over the commercial side of the projects Non-Package & Manpower budgets. Within this time, I have also been able to travel round almost all the sites which culminate into the construction of Doggerbank Windfarm, ranging from Haugesund, Norway, Maasvelakte 2 in Netherlands and Habokken, Belgium. Within these visits the sheer scale and complexities which cannot be envisaged from the office in Glasgow making the day-to-day work easier to relate to the eventual outcomes.
Tell us about the work you have been doing?
Since I started, I have balanced the fulltime working as well as cramming the Quantity Surveying University course into 1 day per week, as well as all of the studying which comes with this. Balancing my studies has allowed the university course to be relatable and allows me to have background knowledge on topics or seek out practical examples of areas where I struggle or find it hard to visualise etc.
Day to day, I carry out traditional QS tasks such as drafting and reviewing contracts, cost reporting/forecasting as well as reviewing and evaluating contractor variations. Within all of these tasks I meet new people on the project and have the ability to build reputations and relationships which builds new bridges for future work whether this be help/advice or simply taking on new challenging tasks to further develop. Due to the large scale of Doggerbank, there is also disputes, often of large sums & complexities, allowing me to get first hand experience within dispute resolution procedures which may be unattainable for most at my age and experience level.
