National Inclusion Week: My Apprenticeship Journey

This week, 14th – 20th September, is national inclusion week. At Kendall Kingscott we offer a range of different pathways to support people to enter our industry. 

Ivy-Elizabeth Curle shares with us her journey to become an Apprentice at Kendall Kingscott.

I hadn't heard of degree apprenticeships until I started considering a career in quantity surveying. At the time, I was trying to find a career that would suit my long term after deciding that computer science wasn't the right path for me. I had started down that route but ultimately had to leave due to my chronic illness.

As I explored different career options, quantity surveying kept coming up. It matched many of the skills I already had and, more importantly, it was something I found genuinely interesting. Initially, I stopped pursuing it because I believed I would need to attend university full time to become a qualified Quantity Surveyor, which I didn't feel would be the right fit for me.

However, quantity surveying continued to stand out while other career options never quite felt right. As I researched further, I discovered degree apprenticeships through the University of the Built Environment. It felt like the perfect middle ground. I could earn a degree and build a professional career without following the traditional university route.

I reached out to several companies asking about work experience opportunities, including Kendall Kingscott, who offered me a placement as a trainee Quantity Surveyor one day a week. During this time, I worked part time elsewhere while completing the Level 3 qualification needed to start my degree apprenticeship. What started as work experience developed into a part-time role and eventually led to me beginning my degree apprenticeship in September 2025.

Before joining the industry, I think I had some of the stereotypical assumptions that many people have about construction. I imagined a very "lads, lads, lads" environment on building sites and wasn't sure how well I would fit in. One of the biggest surprises for me has been discovering how collaborative, professional and supportive the industry is. While construction is still often viewed through those stereotypes, my experience has been one of teamwork, respect and people genuinely wanting to help each other succeed.

One moment that has always stayed with me happened during the early days of my work experience placement. During lunch one day, I mentioned that I was struggling to understand a concept for an assignment and was having difficulty finding a suitable case study to write about. I wasn't asking for help, just talking about how I was finding the coursework. At the end of the day, a colleague who wasn't part of my team stayed behind for an additional 45 minutes to help me. Together, we looked through Kendall Kingscott projects for a strong case study and worked through a section of my assignment.

What struck me most was that this wasn't part of their job, and it wasn't work they were responsible for. They simply saw someone who needed support and were willing to give up some of their own time to help. As someone who was still very new to both the industry and the company, it made a huge impression on me and showed the kind of culture Kendall Kingscott has. It was one of the first moments where I felt that people genuinely cared about my development and wanted me to succeed.

Since joining Kendall Kingscott, one of the things that has stood out most to me is the sense of belonging the company creates. From the beginning, everyone has been welcoming, supportive and genuinely invested in helping me succeed. Although we're spread across different teams and disciplines, there is a real culture of people supporting one another and taking an interest in each other's development.

It's often the small things that make the biggest difference. People regularly gather around a large table for lunch, creating opportunities to chat, get to know one another and feel part of the wider team. As someone joining, those moments helped me feel included from the start.

I've also been struck by how willing people are to help. There have been times when I've asked a question and ended up with half the office involved, sharing their knowledge, discussing different approaches and helping me find an answer. Knowing that people are happy to stop what they're doing to support each other creates an environment where you feel comfortable asking questions, learning and challenging yourself.

A huge part of my experience has also been the support of my manager and mentor. From the moment I first expressed an interest in pursuing a degree apprenticeship, they have been just as enthusiastic about my development as I am. They've always made me feel that my opinions are valued and that my contribution matters, regardless of where I am in my career journey.

Whether it's supporting my progression from placement student to apprentice, encouraging me to attend industry events, helping me explore different areas of the profession, or adapting the type of work I'm involved in to support my learning, they have consistently looked for opportunities to help me develop. They have always had faith in my abilities, even when I have doubted myself. That level of encouragement has given me confidence not only in my abilities but also in my future within the profession.

One skill I'm particularly proud of developing is contract administration and contract writing. I remember the first time I was given a set of preliminaries and a JCT contract to work with. I felt completely overwhelmed and honestly had no idea where to start. Over time, through experience and the support of colleagues, I've become much more confident in understanding and working with contracts. It's now one of my favourite parts of the role, and it's rewarding to look back and see how far I've come.

One of my favourite experiences so far has been attending networking events. They've given me the opportunity to meet people from across the industry, learn from their experiences and gain different perspectives on the profession. I've also really enjoyed being able to share my own journey and promote quantity surveying as a career to people who may never have heard of it before. Considering that I didn't know degree apprenticeships or quantity surveying were options when I first started exploring careers, it's particularly rewarding to help others discover opportunities they might not otherwise have considered.

The apprenticeship has allowed me to develop both professionally and personally. I've gained practical experience working on real projects, strengthened my technical knowledge and built confidence in my own abilities. Being trusted with meaningful work while continuing my studies has reinforced that I made the right decision.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue developing my knowledge and experience as I work towards becoming a qualified Quantity Surveyor. This opportunity has shown me that there isn't one route into a profession, and that with the right support, alternative pathways can open doors that once seemed out of reach.

If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering an apprenticeship, it would be to keep an open mind about the different routes available. An apprenticeship offers the chance to earn, learn and gain valuable experience at the same time. For me, it provided a way to pursue a career I'm genuinely passionate about while finding an approach that worked for my circumstances, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities it has given me.

I'd also encourage people not to be afraid to ask for opportunities and to take advantage of those offered to them. Some of the most valuable experiences I've had have come from putting myself forward, asking questions and saying yes to opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone. You never know where a conversation, placement, networking event or new piece of work might lead, and those experiences can play a huge role in your personal and professional development.