Balfour Beatty celebrates inaugural quantity surveyor graduates

The first cohort of degree apprentices from Balfour Beatty, training to become construction quantity surveyors at Northumbria University, have graduated. 

Launched in January 2021, the Construction Quantity Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship was designed in collaboration with Balfour Beatty.

The programme has since expanded, working with industry partners across the country, and has recently accepted more than four times more apprentices than the inaugural cohort.

Commenting on the programme’s success, Dr Susan Dawson, assistant professor in Northumbria’s Department for Architecture and Built Environment, said: “This industry-led degree apprenticeship programme directly addresses critical national skills gaps. 

“The growth of the programme in such a short space of time is a testament to the innovative hybrid model, designed with Balfour Beatty, which incorporates structured employer participation.

“The first cohort has been overwhelmingly successful, achieving a 100% pass rate and further demonstrating the success of our cognitive apprenticeship approach. Congratulations to our 2024 graduates; we can’t wait to see what you do next.”

The programme covers technical topics such as construction technology, sustainability and contracts, though most of the learning is in the workplace. 

Professional practice modules on the course focus on behaviours in the apprenticeship standard and encourage apprentices to reflect on the programme as a whole.

Tim Howarth, commercial training manager at Balfour Beatty, said: “It is pleasing to have worked with the university to support the success of 17 Balfour Beatty graduates and many more to come. 

“As a result of this progressive and novel degree apprenticeship, Balfour Beatty has developed a tight-knit community of quantity surveying apprentices from a diverse range of exciting projects and work sectors. 

“It is a great example of academia and industry collaborating closely to deliver targeted personal development and growth in professional capability, competence and academic excellence. 

“Ongoing collaboration between Northumbria University and Balfour Beatty is a key component of this apprenticeship. Supporting and nurturing the growth and success of apprentices is critical to the future of our industry.”