Berkeley Group Apprenticeship Programme

Christian - A Day in the Life of an Apprentice Site Manager at Berkeley Homes

8:00 AM: I join the Site Manager for the morning meeting with the construction team. We discuss the progress made yesterday, the goals for today, and any specific instructions or safety precautions that must be followed. I take notes and ask questions to ensure I understand the tasks assigned to each team member.

8:30 AM: The construction work begins. I assist the Site Manager in overseeing the day-to-day operations. This involves closely monitoring the work progress, checking the quality of construction, and addressing any immediate issues that arise. I collaborate with subcontractors and suppliers to ensure a smooth workflow and timely delivery of materials.

9:30 AM: I conduct a site inspection, focusing on specific areas where construction activities are taking place. I verify that the workmanship meets the required standards and that design specifications are being followed accurately. If I notice any deviations or quality concerns, I immediately communicate them to the site manager, who provides guidance on how to rectify the issues.

11:00 AM: I assist in coordinating with external parties, such as building inspectors, architects, or engineers, who visit the site for inspections or consultations. I help gather the necessary documents and accompany them during the walkthrough, addressing any queries they may have.

12:30 PM: I grab a quick bite with the construction team, taking the opportunity to build relationships and foster a positive working environment. I also engage in informal discussions with the experienced Site Managers, learning from their insights and experiences.

1:00 PM: After lunch, I work on administrative tasks. This includes updating project documentation, maintaining records of site activities, and ensuring that all necessary permits and approvals are in order. I assist the Site Manager in preparing progress reports and compiling data for a management review.

2:30 PM: I participate in a safety meeting conducted by the site manager. We discuss safety procedures, identify potential hazards, and reinforce the importance of maintaining a safe working environment. I actively contribute by sharing observations, near misses, or suggestions to improve safety protocols.

3:00 PM: I take on specific tasks assigned by the Site Manager, such as coordinating deliveries, managing subcontractor schedules, or conducting inventory checks. I ensure that all resources are readily available, minimising delays and maximising productivity.

4:30 PM: As the day comes to a close, I attend the end-of-day meeting with the construction team. We review the progress made during the day, discuss any outstanding issues, and plan for tomorrow's tasks. I make note of any lessons learned or areas where improvements can be made.

5:00 PM: I wrap up my day, ensuring that the site is secure and all equipment is properly stored. Before leaving, I take a moment to reflect on the day's experiences, the knowledge gained, and the skills honed. I look forward to tomorrow, eager to continue learning and growing in my role.

Imogen - A Day in the Life as a Technical Apprentice

8.00 AM: I arrive at the site office and login to my computer, make my breakfast and chat with my colleagues. Then I write my to-do list for the day and refresh myself on yesterday's tasks/progress. If I have received any emails from the previous day, I will read through them and respond where I can.

8.30 AM: Once I have looked through my emails, I will get started on reviewing information needed for the upcoming commissioning certificates and update the certificates tracker this relates to. CMLs (Council of Mortgage Lenders) are certificates noting the commissioning and testing of works in a flat. They need to be signed off by Building Control in order for the flats to be occupied. 

10.00 AM: After the tracker is up to date, I work on the design for one of the resident's lobbies at 250 City Road. My colleague helped me review current drawings and what we still need to request from consultants and contractors. The review includes; ensuring information is up to date and correct, that the design is still current and checking what needs to be added or amended.

11.00 AM: I attend a meeting discussing the resident's lobby's budget. We discuss what packages (tiling, staircases, firestopping etc.) have already been bought and what packages we need to buy in order to finish it to the Berkeley standard within budget. 

12.00 PM: After the meeting, I relay the information we discussed to the consultants involved in the build of the lobby so they can be in the loop. They may need to amend their drawings to include comments. 

12.30 PM: At lunchtimes, my colleagues and I sometimes walk to the local food market, and if the weather is nice we will sit in the park and chat while we eat. It's nice to stretch your legs and get away from the computer.

1.30 PM: After lunch, I need to go on site to look at something we discussed in the previous meeting. I put my PPE on and bring my work phone to take photos or write notes.  The main focus is to check whether or not the HIU (Heating Interface Unit) had been installed, which controls the heating of the apartment. I go on site with my colleague and we look around the area where the HIU should be. It seems like the HIU hasn’t been installed.

3.00 PM: I get back to the office I take off all my PPE and upload the photos I took to the computer. Because the heating unit hasn't been installed, it means that we will have to rely on the Fan Coil Unit to provide heat. I spoke to the M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) consultants to update their drawings to show no Heating Interface Unit. 

5.00 PM: At the end of the day, I log off, pack up my stuff and say goodbye to my colleagues. I then head off to start my commute home.

Michael - A Day in the Life of an Quantity Surveying Apprentice at Berkeley Homes

8.00 AM: On a day-to-day basis, my role involves the procurement and management of packages from contractors and if it is a payment week I will begin by going on site and dealing  with any issues that arise.  Practically, this means that I will look into solutions and queries we may have with contractors, and try and troubleshoot any future issues.

8:30 AM: Then, I will deal with any costing exercises and paperwork such as site instructions and quotes needed. Depending on the stage of the project, I will focus on procurement tasks such as reviewing tenders, scope of works, quality documents and tender submission (prices). To make sure we stay in budget I then prepare cost reports for upcoming meetings with directors of each department. This involves outlining the variance (extra cost) you are reporting in the month and the explanation of why we are paying for it. 

11:30 AM: I like to collate all the relevant folders together and file away any key information issued by contractors and I also update payment notices and respond to any variations that have arisen in the period and issue any outstanding instructions. This is important so we have evidence of queries to support any changes to variations. 

12.00 PM: After a busy morning, I unwind at lunch. I really enjoy catching up with colleagues in break out areas, and getting a bit of fresh air along the river path and around the lovely reservoirs at Woodberry Down (the development I am working on). 

1.00 PM: I catch up on any emails received in the morning that need attending to and update my work tracker so I can track my key tasks. I often attend meetings to agree accounts or start to upload payments. I also spend time looking into any savings we could have in our packages for specification changes and to try and reduce materials where we can. I attend additional meetings as required such as progress updates with contractors/ tender discussions with procurement to look at pricing and internal cost report meetings to look at what we are spending and why to meet budget.

3.00 PM: By late afternoon, I focus my energies on what tasks I know I can get finished on that day. I’ll also try to go out on site to catch up with the project build team and expand my knowledge. 

4.00 PM: I update any meeting minutes and issue these to contractors. I update any of my actions and respond to any comments and if it is required upload payments onto the system.

5.00 PM: I do a final review of my workload and tick off anything that I have completed in the day then make my way home.

Megan - A Day in the Life of an Apprentice Grants and Administration Assistant at the Berkeley Foundation in the Cobham Head Office.

8:00 AM: I start my day by arriving at Berkeley’s Head Office in Cobham, Surrey. The first thing I do is unload my bag, set my desk up for the day, say hello to my colleagues and check if there is any mail for the Foundation.

8:30 AM: Once I have logged into my desktop, I refresh my memory on the tasks scheduled for the day using my Outlook calendar. I will respond to my individual work emails as well as the general Foundation inbox, which is the Berkeley Foundation’s direct email address for general enquiries. 

9:30 AM: I join the Foundation team for a team meeting. We discuss any updates from the following week and review our current and upcoming work areas such as Strategic Partnerships, Community Partnerships and Resilience funding. After, we share our weekly plans with each other to help coordinate our diaries.

10:30 AM: After our team meeting, I work on administrative tasks to support the Foundation. These tasks can vary each week depending on what the team need. This may include working on communications assets, processing invoices, collating board papers, uploading grants on SharePoint or writing letters to grantees.

1:00 PM: Lunchtime! I use this time to take myself away from my work desk and computer to have my packed lunch and socialise with colleagues from across the business.

2:00 PM: After lunch, I work on the Berkeley Foundation’s social media content. I then make sure that our content is reviewed and approved by the Head of Foundation before posting. Once the content has been confirmed, I will then post on our social media platforms, such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

2:30 PM: I attend a meeting with my line manager. Together we review what went well, what could have gone better and anything else relevant. This meeting is useful, because I obtain feedback, support and further information about any additional tasks I need to complete during the week. I take notes and ask questions to ensure I understand the tasks assigned and can fulfil them to the best of my ability.

3:00 PM: I will continue to work on administrative tasks to support the Foundation. I enjoy being creative and helpful so I always jump at the chance to support my team. Finally I will submit my off the job learning onto an Excel spreadsheet. This is a requirement of the apprenticeship which involves capturing the learning activities that are not part of my day to day role but support my development. 

5:00 PM: I am finished for the day. Before I leave I pack away all my important resources and ensure that any confidential documents are put safely away in my locker, before saying my goodbyes to the team. Each day I always learn something new, and it is so rewarding to be an Apprentice Grants and Administration Assistant.