Wickersley Sixth Form Student, Owen Gundry, is the first student on the Get Work Ready scheme to join forces with Wickersley Partnership Trust’s Premises Department to get some hands-on experience in construction and premises-based projects – including a primary school renovation! 
Owen’s aspirations after Sixth Form is to do a degree apprenticeship, preferably in quantity surveying so he felt – out of the departments WPT offered – that the Premises Team was the best fit for him and his future.
Owen will be based at Rawmarsh Community School working with mentors in Premises on various school premises projects.
The things that Owen has been learning so far are:
- What a Site Manager is
- What a Site Manager does
- How jobs and projects are budgeted
- How to manage multiple project budgets
- Site Health & Safety
- Examples of asbestos, legionella, COSHH etc
Patrick Morley, Site Manager at Rawmarsh Community School said: “I have explained to Owen what a Site Manager does and how this is budgeted for when managing multiple budget headings. We have also had a thorough talk about the Health & Safety of the site, giving examples of asbestos, legionella, COSHH etc and I have showed him how these are used in the budget to keep users of the site safe.
“He showed a great interest in this and how facilities management could be used as a gateway into his chosen career.”
Ann Dunphy, Parent/Carer of Owen Gundry said: “He’s really enjoying it. The two guys he’s worked with so far have a wealth of experience, and it’s really opened Owen’s eyes to further possibilities.
“Thanks so much Wickersley School for arranging the work experience. Very much appreciated.”
Meet Owen Gundry
Owen is an aspiring Quantity Surveyor, who is currently studying A Level Maths, Sociology and IT. He doesn’t plan on going to university and instead would like to enter the world of Quantity Surveying through a degree apprenticeship but will happily wait for the right opportunity.
He chose to do a placement in the Premises Department because it will put him in a similar environment to what he will be faced with when he starts an apprenticeship.
Owen commented: “During my placement, my mentor has suggested we go to a local school that’s being renovated so I’m looking forward to seeing the project from an external viewpoint. The idea of seeing a project through from start to finish really interests me.”