National Graduate Week: Norris, Commercial Graduate

What is your job title and what do you mainly do in your role?

My job role is Commercial Graduate (Quantity Surveyor within the Aviation Team). I mainly support commercial side.

I work on minor project delivery, working closely with senior cost managers, quantity surveyors, project managers and site mangers. I make sure costs are tracked properly, subcontractors are engaged on time, and all the right documents are in place.

I prepare and send out letters of instruction to subcontractors, making sure they’re clear and contractually sound. Across all of this, I make sure figures, contract details, and documents are accurate and in order.

What projects are you currently working on now?

Right now, I’m not working on a single big project. Since I’ve been placed in the maintenance team, I get to work on many different small projects every day. Our clients are in aviation, like Heathrow, so the work is constant and varied.

For example, some of the things I’ve worked on recently include:

• An exposed pit cover
• Damaged road signs
• A manhole cover broken near a bus shelter
• Car park surface issues
• Kerb repairs.

These might seem like small jobs, but they’re all part of a bigger puzzle the airport itself. If these things aren’t fixed and managed properly, it can lead to delays, safety risks, and ultimately cost the airport money. So, it’s important that they’re resolved quickly and in a way that makes commercial sense for us.

I take care of the commercial side of things making sure the work is accounted for, priced correctly, and documented.

What do you like best about working at M Group?

What I like best about working at M Group is its ambition and commitment to developing future leaders. I appreciate the opportunities to rotate across different areas and gain a broad understanding of the business, as well as being part of a supportive and open team that’s always willing to help. 

How would you describe the company culture and environment at M Group?

M Group’s culture and environment is diverse, friendly, and relaxed. People are focused on their work but also make it easy to be yourself and enjoy your day. I really appreciate how willing everyone is to help each other, which reflects the company’s values of ambition and working together. It’s not a stiff or formal office, it’s a supportive atmosphere that keeps me motivated. 

How does the graduate program support your professional development for your career?

The graduate programme really helps, especially in my case. I am having   the chance to develop my skills as a quantity surveyor across different areas.

For example, I’ve been able to shadow both quantity surveyors and cost manager in my team.

I also get the chance to rotate between different divisions in the office, like the estimating team, which I really appreciate and possibly eventually I could move to rail or a different airport. The team I’m working with now focuses more on numbers and commercial aspects, which is great. But at university, I learned about all the different sides of quantity surveying not just numbers. Things like contract administration, construction pricing, measurement, and cost planning.

If I wanted to learn more about those areas or apply the skills I picked up at university, I can if I ask. That’s what I like about the programme. It gives you the flexibility to explore different parts of the QS role, and if you’re proactive, you can shape your own learning and development.

What are some of the key challenges you’ve faced in your role, and how did you overcome them?

One of the key challenges for me has been getting used to the corporate environment. I’ve never been in one before, so adjusting to it has taken some time. Also, as a graduate, even though they treat you well, you’re still at the bottom of the chain. That means people might not always give you important work or trust you with responsibilities straight away. Sometimes I find myself in situations where things aren’t clear and feel hard to grasp. There’s a lot of information thrown at you, and it can feel overwhelming especially since the company operates in its own way, with many different systems and software for things like payments, cost reports, and commercial processes as a QS.

To overcome that, I make sure I write everything down, ask people to repeat things if I need to, and practice using the software. I also look at old orders and documents so I can understand how things are done and be ready in case I need to work on new ones. That way, I can show I’m capable and prepared to take on more responsibility.

What is the biggest lesson you've learned on the graduate scheme?

I’ve learned that if you really want to grow and prove yourself, you must be proactive. Otherwise, you might find yourself not being productive or learning enough. There’s always work to do you just need to ask for it and not be afraid to take it on.

What is your advice for any university student who’s interested in applying for a graduate programme at M Group?

My advice to any university student interested in applying for the graduate programme at M Group is to be open-minded and take time to learn about the business. There’s a lot of useful information available online, so do your research. Connect with current graduates and ask them questions they’ll give you honest insights. If you get the chance, attend career fairs so you can get a feel for the business and how it operates.