You can sit in a lecture theatre and study specifications, procurement routes and project management theory, or you can pull on a hard hat, step onto a live construction site and watch it happen in real time.
For M&Y Maintenance and Construction apprentices Erin and Ollie, the reality is both!
Currently working at M&Y’s Grove Street development, the pair are completing degree apprenticeships while gaining hands on experience in the construction industry. Erin is training as a Site Manager, while Ollie is developing a career in Quantity Surveying.
Like many apprentices entering the industry, neither Erin nor Ollie arrived knowing everything.
Ollie talks about his first days on site as both exciting and challenging, navigating new terminology, processes and ways of working while adapting to a completely new environment.
For Erin, stepping into a traditionally male-dominated industry came with some uncertainty. But thankfully, those concerns didn’t last long. Supported by colleagues and given the opportunity to take on real responsibility, she quickly found herself building confidence and developing practical skills that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.
Ask most apprentices about the biggest benefit of a degree apprenticeship and you’ll probably hear the same answer… “VARIETY!” “BEST of both worlds!”
You don’t have to choose between education and experience, learn more about our apprenticeship opportunities here: https://my-maintenance.co.uk/work-with-us/apprenticeships/
Erin and Ollie both spoke about the value of moving between university and site, taking lessons from one environment and applying them directly to the other. The theory becomes easier to understand when you’ve seen it happen in practice. The practical work becomes easier to navigate when you understand the theory behind it, It’s a perfect combination from day one.
When you think about Construction, it’s often about buildings, machinery and technical expertise.
But listening to Erin and Ollie, it’s clear that people matter just as much.
Throughout their apprenticeship, both highlighted the support they have received from managers, colleagues and site teams who have taken the time to share knowledge, answer questions and help them develop professionally. Just as importantly, they have had each other.
Joining M&Y at the same time meant they had someone who understood the experience, whether that meant discussing university assignments, comparing site experiences or simply navigating the challenges of starting a new career.
The conversation between Erin and Ollie strikes a little glimpse into what a modern construction careers look like. It’s collaborative, it’s fast-paced and it’s technical… and increasingly, it’s being shaped by ambitious young people who are learning while doing.
At M&Y, apprenticeships aren’t about making tea or standing on the sidelines.
They’re about contributing, learning, growing and helping deliver real projects that make a difference to communities across the region. And if Erin and Ollie’s journey is anything to go by, we think the future of the industry is already in safe hands.
