After seven years teaching at a secondary school in Croydon, Joshua Savage decided it was time for change. He’d prgressed from teaching assistant to qualified PE and science teacher. But deep down, he knew it wasn’t the job he wanted for the next thirty years.
‘The best move I ever made’: at 28, Josh Savage is enjoying being an apprentice working on HS2
The idea of starting again was daunting. Savage wanted a career, not just a job, which meant he’d have to retrain.
The construction sector had always appealed to him, but Savage wasn’t one for getting his hands dirty. With a head for figures and analytics, he began matching his skills to potential new careers in the industry.
His research led him to HS2, Britain’s biggest infrastructure project.
HS2’s construction partners in London, Skanska, Costain, STRABAG, were on the lookout for talented individuals to join their degree-level quantity surveyor apprenticeship programme – as HS2 had committed to creating 2,000 apprenticeships.
The job required a sharp eye for detail – and numbers. The successful candidate would receive on-the-job training, learning how to conduct feasibility studies, detailed assessments of materials and labour costs, and assess costs and risks for tenders and contracts. Working closely with suppliers and contractors, on- and off-site, was a key requirement. It sounded perfect.
Weighing up his options, Savage knew he’d take an initial drop in pay but he didn’t let that put him off. The five-year course, with a good starting salary and clear progression opportunities, was also fully funded, which meant his university fees – nearly £30,000 – would be paid by his employer.
If he worked hard, he could also qualify to become a chartered surveyor.
Fast-forward two years and Savage doesn’t regret his decision to join the 31,000-strong workforce helping to build HS2.
“If you’d have told me five years ago that I’d be a student again, sitting at the back of the classroom, I’d have laughed,” said Savage, 28.
“I did enjoy teaching, it was hugely rewarding, but it suddenly hit me that I didn’t want to do it forever.
“Now I’ve got the best of both worlds. I’m working on the UK’s biggest construction project and my employer, Skanska, has made a huge investment in both my personal and professional development. I’m almost halfway through my five-year apprenticeship, and without doubt, it’s the best move I ever made.”
As the UK celebrates National Apprenticeship Week, Savage is keen to remind others that: “Apprenticeships aren’t just for teenagers, and it’s never too late to start again.”
He now spends one day per week studying at London South Bank University towards his BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying degree. The remaining four days are spent supporting construction of the Victoria Road Crossover Box in West London. This huge underground structure will allow HS2 trains to switch tracks on their approach into the new 14-platform superhub station at Old Oak Common.
HS2 is playing a pivotal role in upskilling the next generation of professionals in the railway and major infrastructure sectors. The commitment to create 2,000 apprenticeships is on track, and this unparalleled investment will ensure the nation has the skilled workforce it needs to continue developing our much-loved railways into the future.
So far, 1810 people have already started an apprenticeship on HS2. For more information about careers and opportunities with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain partners, visit hs2.org.uk/jobs-and-skills/
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Great insight!