I had contracting experience gained from working within the family business but didn’t feel I was progressing in the way I wanted to. I didn’t really know a lot about BMS beforehand but after voicing my frustrations to a friend she mentioned that the company her dad worked for were looking for apprentices. It sounded interesting so I looked into it further.
After reading about the company and the industry I thought to myself that it sounded like something I could be good at and decided to apply. The interview’s went well and I was offered a place on the apprenticeship.
I grew up around the construction industry and I have always enjoyed the technical side of it. I had previously completed some CAD work with steel and found that side of the industry really interesting, especially the elements where I had to use computer programmes or software to solve problems. When I found out that BMS engineers used computer-based systems to control building systems it sounded like an ideal fit for me.
I also have an interest in the environment and sustainability and this role ties in with that. I’ve always tried to ensure that whatever I do has minimal impact on the environment and this role involves finding new ways to lower energy usage and reduce carbon footprints.
It can be pretty varied and depends a lot on who I’m working with and where I’m working but typically I go to a different site every day, or every other day, and I’ll often be with different engineers looking at different scenarios.
No two plant rooms are really the same and everyone does things slightly differently so you get that variety and an opportunity to learn quickly by getting that practical experience. At the moment I’m in London for most of the week so it’s fairly straightforward to move around to different sites.
I’ve been liking the software side and seeing how different programmes work. You can see the impact that different solutions can have and how each scenario can differ from the next. It’s important to fully understand the existing setup before implementing any changes.
I often talk with the engineers and they give me useful feedback. The Service Director involves me and the other apprentices in online meetings so we can listen in and watch how things are done. If there are meetings on site then typically I’ll sit in on these as well.
I also get regular calls from my line manager asking me how I’m getting on and which bits I’m enjoying the most, plus I get feedback from Group Horizon as well.
Right now there is a great opportunity to get involved in the industry as it seems like there is more focus than ever before on bringing new people in and offering them the support they need to pursue a successful career.
I’ve found that everyone in the industry is keen to get you involved and put effort into teaching people like me. If you like the sound of what’s on offer then go for it!
I think this is a great starting point to help me decide if I want a future in the BMS industry.
This is a growing industry and the drive for greater energy efficiency will mean that BMS will become increasingly prevalent. This apprenticeship puts me in an ideal position to take advantage of that or gives me the options to move into a closely linked industry where I can make use of the skills I’ve learned.
