After seven years as a secondary school teacher in Croydon, Joshua Savage decided to pursue a new career path, joining HS2’s degree-level Quantity Surveyor apprenticeship programme. Despite progressing from teaching assistant to qualified PE and Science teacher, Savage realised it wasn’t the long-term career he envisioned.
The prospect of retraining was daunting, but Savage was determined to find a fulfilling career. His interest in construction, coupled with his aptitude for figures and analytics, led him to HS2. The project’s commitment to creating 2,000 apprenticeships, along with the opportunity to join the Skanska, Costain, STRABAG joint venture, proved irresistible.
The Quantity Surveyor apprenticeship appealed to Savage’s skills. The role involves conducting feasibility studies, assessing material and labour costs, and evaluating tender and contract risks, requiring close collaboration with suppliers and contractors.
While acknowledging an initial pay cut, the five-year, fully funded course, including nearly £30,000 in university fees, and clear progression opportunities, including the potential to become a Chartered Surveyor, made the decision easier.
Two years into his apprenticeship, Savage, 28, has no regrets.
28-year-old Josh from Croydon said:
“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. 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 marks National Apprenticeship Week, Savage encourages others to consider apprenticeships, regardless of age. “Apprenticeships aren’t just for teenagers, and it’s never too late to start again,” he emphasised.
Savage now spends one day a week at London Southbank University working towards his BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying degree, and the remaining four days supporting the construction of the Victoria Road Crossover Box in West London, a crucial underground structure for HS2 trains approaching the new Old Oak Common station.
HS2 is committed to upskilling the next generation of professionals in the rail and infrastructure sectors, aiming to create 2,000 apprenticeships. This investment is intended to ensure the UK has the skilled workforce needed for future rail development.
As the nation celebrates 200 years since the birth of the modern railway, HS2 looks forward to an exciting future. The project anticipates that technology and cutting-edge design will revolutionise rail travel, providing more reliable, faster, and frequent services. HS2 will also help relieve pressure on the existing rail network, improving journeys for passengers using historic lines.
To date, 1,810 people have started apprenticeships on HS2. For more information on careers and opportunities, visit hs2.org.uk/jobs-and-skills/.
