Apprentice Building Surveyor, Ben Cookson, reflects on his Building Surveying journey and apprenticeship
“Balancing university alongside working four days a week has continued to be challenging, but it’s also been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”
Two years into his studies, Apprentice Building Surveyor, Ben Cookson, reflects on his Building Surveying journey and apprenticeship.
This week, marked another significant milestone for Ben Cookson, building surveying apprentice in PMP’s Manchester office, as he completed year two of his Building degree apprenticeship at the University of Salford, achieving first-class results across his Level 4 modules.
Ben joined PMP in 2024 through a degree apprenticeship scheme and has since become an integral part of the Manchester team, contributing to projects while studying four days on, one day off throughout the academic year.
Reflecting on two years of balancing work and study, Ben said:
“Looking back at where I was a year ago, the improvement in the quality of my work has been significant. My confidence has grown, my technical knowledge has developed, and I’m becoming much more comfortable applying what I learn at university to real projects in the workplace.
“Balancing university alongside working four days a week has continued to be challenging but it’s also been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. Being able to apply what I learn in lectures directly to real projects, while learning from experienced colleagues every day, has continuously accelerated my development.
“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at work who has taken the time to answer my questions, share their knowledge, and support my progression. The combination of workplace experience and university learning is what makes apprenticeships such a fantastic way to learn.”
Ben completed Level 4 of his Building Surveying degree with first-class results, with his latest modules including Building Construction & Defects; Surveying Practice; and Digital Design Practice.
Ben Walker, Executive Director and Manchester lead, said:
“Ben has shown great tenacity in delivering projects and juggling the competing demands of his studies. He has grown enormously through the process, and I have seen first-hand how working in the sector alongside his academic qualifications has allowed him to develop. We are very proud to support him on his journey and look forward to his next steps.”
Next year brings another exciting chapter, as Ben progresses into Level 5, where the course content becomes more advanced and the professional demands continue to grow.
