Sumya has been working with Sir Robert McAlpine since September and is currently working on the development of the nine-storey luxury hotel in Mayfair, London.

NAW 2024 theme "Skills for life" logo Sumya applied for an apprenticeship at Sir Robert McAlpine after completing A Levels in Product and Graphic Design, and a BTEC in Construction and Built Environment. A BTEC or 'Business and Technology Education Council' (the name of the body which originally oversaw it) is a practical-based, vocational qualification. It can be studied at a college or school.

As part of her role, Sumya monitors the site for health and safety risks, tracks the progress of the project and shadows some of the senior members of the team. She says the apprenticeship route has been perfect for her. She finds that being on site helps her to make practical sense of the theory within her degree. Since watching and learning from her peers, she can now put her skills in practice. Sumya is also interested in the evolution of the project. Seeing it grow and develop while on site is a part of her apprenticeship that she values.

As a detail-oriented person Sumya is keen to be involved in the specifics of her work. She enjoys asking questions, being exposed to the processes on site and particularly shadowing the engineers. Being an apprentice at Sir Robert McAlpine has given Sumya access to opportunities she wouldn’t have had otherwise, including working with our Special Projects team, and visiting other project sites.

According to Sumya, the importance of keeping everyone safe on site means there’s a real sense of camaraderie with her colleagues. She believes that communication is key and sharing information is a pre-requisite for a successful project.

Her advice to those considering an apprenticeship…

Show up, be consistent and be enthusiastic! Be confident in your skills and what you can offer. Remember not one size fits all, but you’ll find the right apprenticeship for you. I’ve found mine and it really works for me.
Sumya Yesmin Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor at Sir Robert McAlpine

In five years, Sumya would like to finish her degree and become a Construction Manager before eventually taking on Project Management. And we’re in no doubt that she’ll make that happen.

Head over to our Instagram page to watch 'a day in the life of' with Sumya.

Did we mention to check out our social media channels this week?!

We'll be sharing National Apprenticeship Week content each day this week, so watch this space! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. You can also follow Sumya's construction journey in construction via her Instagram page: @sumyas._journal

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