Discovering the data centre industry

Ben explains: “I’d always thought that I’d go down the traditional route of Quantity Surveying but after an initial interview with BCS their apprenticeship scheme felt like an exciting opportunity in a growing market.

Data centres aren’t really something that you’re taught about at school and the industry was relatively new for me.  However, it’s absolutely something that we should be talking to young people about.  Data centres have such a broad reach across our daily lives from online shopping to social media, and as an industry suffering from a drastic skills shortage it’s crucial that we address this lack of knowledge amongst students and young people considering which paths to follow.

I’ve been with BCS for five years now and my favourite thing hands down is the people.  We have such a great team.  Everyone is enthusiastic and supportive, and senior colleagues are always willing to give up their time to pass on knowledge and discuss new ideas. I’ve learnt so much since starting my apprenticeship, both professionally and socially and would thoroughly recommend BCS to anyone considering their career options.  Apprenticeships provide hands-on experience in a real work environment, and allow you to apply theoretical knowledge from university directly to practical situations.

My day-to-day work involves the commercial management of Data Centre developments across EMEA.  I’m actively working on three live projects at the moment, helping to manage stakeholder relationships and navigate supply chain issues; and am responsible for contractor negotiations, market testing, tenders and supporting the development of monthly commercial reporting.

Next year I plan on sitting my RICS Chartership and hope to grow my career further at the company, one day joining the Exec team.”

Since Ben joined BCS, the apprenticeship programme has grown from one individual to twelve, and the trend is set to continue along the same trajectory growing year on year. As part of this growth, Ben has been a fundamental part in working with the business to build the foundations that will support the next generation of surveyors coming into the industry. He has done this by obtaining and providing 360° feedback, supporting with programme content, and buddying with new starters.  

Ben has brought his academic learnings into the workplace, questioning the status quo and encouraging innovation within our business. This has supported the optimisation of client results on his projects.

The apprenticeship scheme is a key element of the BCS strategy for growth, focussing on attracting, retaining and nurturing the best talent in the industry, which in turn will allow us to support our clients in delivering on their strategies.