Mark McColgan, 28, from Glasgow, one of City Building’s three newly qualified Quantity Surveyors, joined the organisation on his 16th birthday as an apprentice plumber.
He had learned about the construction firm from his careers office at Holyrood High School, and left school to become a tradesperson. With the apprenticeship lasting four years, Mark went on to work as a plumber, then trainee estimator, before City Building offered sponsorship to become a trainee quantity surveyor. Jumping at the opportunity, Mark qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University with a First class degree last month.
Recounting his growth within the company, Mark urges more people to consider an apprenticeship.
Mark said: “People think going into a trade is a dead end, but there’s so many routes to other things. City Building have put me through everything, I’ve really been quite fortunate. The company sponsored my HNC in Building Surveying at South Lanarkshire College, which then gave me access to the honours degree in 2017.
“I left school never fancying higher education, but my time spent working with other quantity surveyors gave me the confidence and ambition to try it for myself. The course was really enjoyable too, and City Building gave us day relief so there were no night classes. It was a bit strange last year, adapting to online learning and online lectures, but there was so much support.
“The last few months have definitely been hectic, what with the course ending and finally being able to get married in May after my wedding was postponed twice. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this new role, and to build my confidence too.
“There are lots of things that I enjoy about working with City Building, but as I’m Glasgow born and raised, I love working in areas I know. I even worked in my old primary school as an apprentice.
“City Building has really encouraged me to be ambitious, and I’m over the moon to have qualified as a trainee quantity surveyor. It’s been such a good experience -I’d recommend City Building to any young folk considering an apprenticeship.”
