Every year, we publish a summary of all our shortlisted entries to showcase our amazing nominees and promote best practice across the sector.

You can read more about the NHMF Awards here.  

Winner: Chloe Larcombe

Training provider: Exeter College

Employer: Ian Williams

Shortlisters: Joe Edge, Bell Group | Michael Voigt, Spokemead Maintenance Ltd

Achievements

Chloe has a very clear aim for her career and managed to complete her course 5 months quicker than is normal. She has shown a good grasp of detail and impressive time management, benefitting from good support from Ian Williams (IW) and the challenge from additional surveyors. In addition, Chloe has risen to the challenge of taking on and excelling in additional responsibilities associated with more experienced roles, showing her future potential. She made a very positive impression on her colleagues at IW and at East Devon District Council (EDDC), evidenced by their comments recorded below.

Why this apprentice was Apprentice of the Year? What made this apprentice stand out?

Chloe is an extremely likeable, dedicated, and hardworking apprentice surveyor who has made a very positive impression on her colleagues at IW and EDDC. The male dominated world of surveying does not phase her, and her tenacious approach to work and drive for success is greatly admired by her peers. “Chloe’s enthusiasm is infectious, and I am so charmed by her excitement about getting involved in compliance contracts and developing herself further.” Sian Pearce, Training and Development Manager, IW. Chloe’s entry into the world of construction was far from straight forward. Due to commencing her employment at IW in February 2022, she started her HNC college course in Construction and the Built Environment 5 months behind her classmates. This meant the volume of work to catch up on alongside her apprenticeship was tremendous. Despite this huge challenge, her exceptional hard work and determination resulted in not only catching up with the rest of her class, but also achieving a distinction overall. This dedication to her course is highly commendable. Chloe has successfully taken on response, voids, and compliance contracts. She is incredibly flexible in her skills and never says no to a challenge, progressing quickly to master all types of work she is given. She believes that everyone she meets in her day-to-day activities has knowledge and experience that she can learn from, making her an extremely well-rounded apprentice. Her ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with clients, suppliers, and subcontractors sets her apart from her peers. Her interpersonal skills and professionalism have contributed to successful collaborations and positive outcomes in various projects. Her talent for building rapport and effective communication has been instrumental in fostering productive partnerships. The trust that Chloe’s team have in her is praiseworthy; it is not often that an apprentice can take on some of the responsibilities of a Contracts Manager, but Chloe never ceases to amaze her team. She has put together void packs, completed void surveys independently, and has been a rigorous ambassador of Health & Safety on site. She has even found new and improved ways of working by setting new standards for her colleagues undertaking void pre-inspection surveys. She is also soon to take a leading role in one of IW’s biggest planned works contracts – strong evidence of her competency. She manages this vast workload with a high degree of independence and is unphased by it, remaining calm and collected at all times. Chloe's problem-solving skills have been instrumental in overcoming challenges and finding innovative solutions. Her proactive approach to problem-solving has not only contributed to the smooth execution of projects but has also earned her the trust and respect of her colleagues. Furthermore, Chloe is a natural helper and has a genuine desire to support those she works with. This is evident through her willingness to take a new female apprentice surveyor under her wing, showing her the ropes and mentoring her through the academic aspects of her apprenticeship. She has also naturally undertaken the role of sub-contractor mentor, often helping new sub-contractors with processes, documents, and procedures in order to on-board them more smoothly. Chloe has big aspirations for her future and is keen to prove herself as a skilled surveyor, not just in her Exmouth team, but across IW as a whole. She also sees herself one day becoming Contracts Manager, a role which would come naturally to her, having taken on some of those responsibilities in her contracts. She has commented that her main goal on projects is to ‘give the client the best price, using the best materials, up to our best standard but within their budget.’ A brilliant statement summing up just how committed she is to IW, her clients, her apprenticeship, and her future. In summary, Chloe's tenacity, quick learning abilities, strong relationship-building skills, and problem-solving capabilities make her an outstanding candidate for the Apprentice of the Year award. Her contributions to costed works management, collaboration with EDDC, and ability to find solutions to challenges highlight her exceptional performance and potential for future success. “As Business Manager for the unit, this is a particularly proud moment for myself and the team to see Chloe nominated for this award. From first welcoming a nervous Chloe into the business in late February 2022, it’s been amazing to see her gain a sound understanding of IW’s commercial practices in a short period of time. Chloe very quickly gained an excellent understanding of the EDDC contract and has been putting this knowledge into practice on a daily basis whilst building great work relationships with colleagues, sub-contractors, and clients. Chloe has a great future ahead through her dedication, perseverance, and self-motivation. There is no greater example of hard work paying off.” – Arron Kelly, Business Manager, Ian Williams

An example where this apprentice has shown commitment to learning at college and another where they've shown commitment to learning in the workplace.

Chloe has shown the utmost commitment to her college work since joining the HNC course at Exeter College in February 2022, which had started 5 months previously in September 2021, so Chloe was 5 months behind the rest of her class on her enrolment. This did not phase her at all, and she rapidly caught up with the rest of her class by completing a lot of her college work out of hours, in evenings and at weekends. Despite the sheer volume of work Chloe has had to complete, the quality of her work has never been affected. She has achieved a distinction overall for her HNC - a testament to her tremendous work ethic. “Chloe’s enthusiasm and excitement regarding her academic studies and apprenticeship has been exceptional. She is always keen to learn new skills and goes beyond what is required of the program, particularly in the units of Construction Practice and Management and Construction Information. Chloe has taken a particular interest in the commercial integrated BIM software AutoDesk Revit in producing 3D photo realistic models for clients and extracting data such as materials take-offs for bills of quantities. She is well versed in the ‘the power of BIM’ and the benefits it brings to the industry. In addition to this, Chloe has shown a key interest in construction company policies and image towards building sustainable communities, green credentials and investing in people. Most importantly of all, Chloe is a team player in her group and always happy to help others with their studies and contribute towards the team effort fostered by Exeter College.” – Dr Matt Baker, Lecturer and Assessor, Exeter College. Whether on-site or in the office, Chloe is always learning, and has a genuine thirst for knowledge. She is inquisitive, and isn’t afraid to ask questions, no matter how small they may seem. For example, when learning the principles of CVR (Cost Value Reconciliations) and monthly valuations, she has endeavoured to understand the mechanics of each process, questioning the workings, asking her trainer for further explanation to really help ingrain what she has learnt. James Turpin, IW’s Managing Surveyor, has commented that she always asks pertinent questions, demonstrating that she has a deep understanding of the issues under discussion. Her other colleagues have commented that she ‘absorbs information’ and they have greatly enjoyed watching her confidence grow, gradually becoming more direct and assertive when required. In her compliance contracts, she’s shown her commitment to learning by taking initiative and organizing meetings with Contracts Managers and sub-contractors to discuss the project at hand. She fully takes on board the requirements of her contracts and delivers them to the highest of standards. Chloe also uses internal IW workshops and training days to her full advantage, asking questions and networking with Surveyors, Business Managers, Commercial Managers, Forepersons and Contracts Managers to enhance her learning. A specific example of her commitment to learning in the workplace has been through her dedication to learning how voids are pre-inspected and priced. The biggest challenge for this is understanding the inclusion and exclusion criteria on the void model list, which can contain several grey areas in terms of what is chargeable. Chloe has been able to digest this information and apply her knowledge of the void model list against the principles of the contract. She is now able to price voids accurately against the criteria and justify her findings to the client.

A scenario, where this apprentice applied the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they've learned, and how they did this.

Chloe – A notable scenario where Chloe applied her knowledge, skills, and behaviours was in the management of a new damp and mould process. She took on the responsibility of managing quotes in this project, ensuring their accuracy and relevance to the project requirements. She demonstrated her attention to detail by thoroughly sense-checking each quote, verifying that it aligned with each of the property specifications. Chloe's proactive approach was evident in her active involvement throughout the project. She not only managed the quotes but also took the initiative to oversee the entire process, from quote approval to logging the works with EDDC, the client. By taking on this comprehensive role, Chloe ensured that the process progressed smoothly and efficiently. Furthermore, Chloe's collaboration with EDDC was instrumental in the success of the new process. She effectively communicated with the relevant stakeholders, including representatives from EDDC, to align their expectations and requirements with each property’s goals. Chloe's ability to work collaboratively and build strong working relationships allowed her to navigate potential challenges and ensure a cohesive approach to the project. Chloe's forward-thinking mindset played a crucial role in the project's success. In summary, Chloe's application of knowledge, skills, and behaviours in the management of the damp and mould project was exemplary. Her attention to detail, proactive approach, effective collaboration with stakeholders, and forward-thinking mindset all played significant roles in achieving positive outcomes. Chloe's ability to apply her learning in a practical setting showcases her competence and potential for continued growth and success in her role as an apprentice with IW. Another example of applying her knowledge, skills, and behaviours was evident on Chloe’s recent void work, where the IW team had a backlog of inspections to complete. Noticing this, Chloe used her initiative to try out a new method of undertaking site surveys by noting down pre-inspection details in an excel app on her mobile phone. She then independently created a new void specification pack with the support of James Turpin, IW’s Managing Surveyor, which was signed off by EDDC. Chloe’s new method of undertaking these pre-inspection site surveys has now become the standard process for the Exmouth team at IW, who gladly adopted her approach. This has considerably sped up the process (from several hours/survey to a mere 30 mins) and with Chloe’s help and new ways of working, the voids team has successfully cleared the backlog of work. Her eagerness to put her learning into practice and investigate more efficient solutions to problems is making a significant difference to the success of her team.

What evidence showed this apprentice takes Health & Safety and Compliance seriously?

Chloe is passionate about Health & Safety and has developed an in-depth understanding of these issues since joining IW. She fully understands the importance of Health & Safety compliance and also the implications of not having all the necessary documents to support safe working. Under CDM regulations, all void contracts must be accompanied by a ‘void pack’ which details relevant H&S information for the contract. This includes RAMS, COSHH, asbestos reports etc. The preparation of the void pack is normally the responsibility of the Contracts Manager, but Chloe has proven herself so well that she has been tasked with preparing these void packs herself. This clearly shows her knowledge and competence of Health & Safety, and the trust the team has in her. Chloe fully owns this process, ensuring all void packs are completed and in line with Health & Safety regulations. If an operative is required to go on site, Chloe is on the ball and immediately checks whether they are up to speed with the contents of the void pack. She genuinely cares about the wellbeing and safety of others and is never afraid to challenge others to ensure they are working safely – a quality rarely found in apprentices in the early stages of their career. Compliance contracts also have the potential to be quite dangerous in terms of the work undertaken, for example, due to the possible exposure of legionella and the handling of fuel. She is very aware of the implications of this and where her priorities lie. Chloe also takes a leading role in onboarding our sub-contractors and making sure they are Health & Safety compliant, such as checking they have all the relevant documents and qualifications to become one of our approved suppliers. She guides them through IW’s Subcontractor Questionnaire, ensuring that they have relevant accreditations such as Constructionline, and all the correct Health & Safety information on file, such as RAMS.

Apprentice's top three relevant personal qualities.

Chloe possesses many excellent personal qualities that contribute to her success as an apprentice surveyor. The top three qualities that stand out are her interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a team, her unwavering commitment to her work, and her varied capability.

People skills: Chloe has made an overwhelmingly good impression on her colleagues since starting at Ian Williams. Approachable, available, kind, and caring are all words her team have used to describe her. Her direct manager describes her as ‘a joy to work with.’ Chloe is a people person, striking up strong working relationships not just with her IW colleagues but with her clients too, including building an excellent relationship with EDDC. She has gone above and beyond for tenants she has met as well – taking into consideration their personal needs and prioritising jobs as a matter of urgency, when necessary, in order to help them. She treats the people she meets on the job just as she would a member of her family, not just a job number on a sheet of paper. Her outstanding mentorship to new sub-contractors is noteworthy too, as is her willingness to help the new apprentice surveyor in the Exeter team. “Chloe's strong team-working skills make her an asset to any project or organisation. She not only supports Ian Williams but also demonstrates a willingness to collaborate with other team members and stakeholders, including EDDC. Her ability to effectively communicate, cooperate, and coordinate with others ensures smooth workflow and fosters a positive work environment.” – Sophie Davies, Housing Contract Manager, East Devon District Council.

Unwavering commitment to work: Chloe is a passionate and incredibly driven apprentice, possessing an unshakable will to succeed in everything she does. She has a keen eye for what she needs to achieve in her apprenticeship and also through her work on site, and she is committed to fulfilling her work to the absolute best of her ability. Chloe always shows up on a Monday morning ready to go. Her tenacious spirit is inspiring to others. Chloe is a zealous supporter of women in construction and is paving the way to encourage more women to take up careers in the sector. Working in a predominantly male industry and team is not daunting for Chloe - she gives as good as she gets and is not afraid to question or challenge when necessary. She has voiced aspirations of not only becoming a fully-qualified Quantity Surveyor, but eventually becoming a Contracts Manager. There is no doubt in her colleagues’ minds that she will achieve this.

Varied capability: Chloe’s skills are not limited to one particular area; she is incredibly flexible in the types of work she can deliver. This is evident by her ability to pick up new types of work outside her usual remit of compliance contracts, such as voids and response contracts. If Chloe is asked to do something she is unfamiliar with, she will ask questions and seek to understand the intricacies of the task at hand before starting. She is a fast learner and a natural problem solver, always looking to find more efficient ways of doing things. Her diverse skill set is incredibly useful to her local team, as she can jump into different roles in other people’s absence. It is not often an apprentice can pick up some of the responsibilities of a Contracts Manager, but Chloe is a talented exception.

How has this apprentice shown commitment to her own personal development and progression?

Chloe, due to starting later in the academic year, she had to complete her HNC in 19 months as opposed to 24 months. Despite this challenge, she still managed to achieve a distinction overall. She has demonstrated enormous commitment and discipline by working many evenings and weekends on her assignments. This shows outstanding dedication to her personal development, and her aspiration to progress through her career. Chloe never turns down a chance to challenge herself and will grab opportunities with both hands. She often gets involved with work outside of her normal remit, and she does all of this on top of her demanding college workload. Her aptitude for learning has allowed her to excel in managing costed works, a responsibility typically assigned to more experienced individuals. Chloe has been described by colleagues as a ‘true all-rounder’ – nothing is beyond her capability. She often represents IW at compliance meetings with clients and actively contributes, engaging with the task at hand and showing her commitment and knowledge. IW run internal workshops bi-annually for trainee surveyors and Chloe uses these to her full advantage. It’s not often that so many knowledgeable people from all across England and Wales are in one room together, so she uses the opportunity to network and ask lots of questions. She is in control of her learning and vocalises the areas in which she feels she needs to improve, or areas that she wants to learn more about.

How has this apprentice inspired others?

Chloe – It is safe to say that those who work with Chloe are all inspired by her tenacity and determination to succeed. Her direct manager, James Turpin, has an excellent working relationship with her and has commented that he himself is inspired by her work ethic and discipline to achieve her goals. “I joined IW as Chloe’s line manager in April this year, at which point she had already completed her first year of her trainee program. When I first met Chloe, I was very impressed with the amount of knowledge and skill she had already gained. Her knowledge has been incredibly valuable to me as an incoming manager in understanding the contract and relationship with EDDC. In the months since, working with Chloe has been incredibly rewarding. I have seen her absorb knowledge and develop her skills, all the while managing her workload and playing a significant role in delivering the contract commercially. Chloe has a great influence in all the work she undertakes and she has been instrumental in keeping the team consistent and professional. Above all else she is a wonderful person to be around for all stakeholders in the business. She makes us all very proud, and we believe she has a bright future in the industry.” – James Turpin, Managing Surveyor, Ian Williams The surveyors who work with her closely have all commented that they ‘wish they were as capable as Chloe at her age.’ The whole team feel very protective over her and are rooting for her success. They are very proud of Chloe, celebrating her hard-earned achievements with her, including her HNC distinction. Chloe has also taken a new female apprentice surveyor under her wing, helping guide, mentor and support her, on the job and with college work. She has given her encouragement and increased her confidence in dealing with the huge quantity of college work. Chloe’s achievements are paving the way for other female apprentices at Ian Williams, inspiring them to achieve their own success in construction.

How does she contribute to the vision and goals of her organisation?

Chloe – A key goal of EDDC is to have consistently satisfied customers. Chloe has made a significant contribution to this through her competent work for EDDC. She has also directly impacted on EDDC customers. For example, she’s worked on several damp and mould jobs where upon the site visit it’s become clear that the tenant has health issues, and therefore needs the job done as quickly as possible. Chloe has prioritised these customers and personally checked that the works have been completed. She has given the tenant and EDDC regular updates before moving onto the next job. She treats the people she encounters in her workday just as she would a friend or family member, with respect, understanding and kindness. A key IW value is behaving to others as we would wish them to behave to us. Chloe has truly embodied this ethos throughout her work. IW’s vision is to be the ‘go to’ property services partner that is truly committed, always innovative and provides fantastic value through its great local teams leading to a business that benefits all stakeholders. Chloe has actively helped build and maintain excellent relations with the team at EDDC, including contributing to client meetings. Her close working relationships with our sub-contractors mean that she is often the first person to receive updates and information from them, which she then forwards to EDDC. This knowledge sharing allows Chloe to advise EDDC on the next steps to take and gives them options, allowing them to pick from a pool of sub-contractors depending on the requirements at hand. This ultimately enables EDDC to have more control over the contract and achieves greater value for money for them. Chloe's problem-solving skills have been instrumental in overcoming challenges and finding innovative solutions on projects. Her contribution to speeding up the void surveys work (through developing a spreadsheet that is accessible through mobile devices) also exemplifies IW’s vision. Chloe developed a new way of working that cleared a backlog of work and has since been adopted as the standard process for the Exeter team. Chloe is often the point of contact for our sub-contractors and has built a great level of trust with several of them. Recently we took on a roofing sub-contractor who was new to the contract, and Chloe took it upon herself to mentor them by helping them through the procedure to become one of our approved suppliers. This included helping them with the IW Subcontractor Questionnaire, identifying what accreditations and certificates they needed, and even helping them with their pricing and invoicing. She nurtures those who need help, and gently corrects their mistakes without being condescending. There have been other times when sub-contractors haven’t performed to the required standard and therefore removed from IW lists, but Chloe has taken it upon herself to find and onboard a replacement sub-contractor with minimal disruption to the programme. She knows what needs to be achieved for the success of their projects and will take direct action to achieve it. Chloe is able to go above and beyond her day-to-day responsibilities to meet the needs of EDDC. For example, she recently took on a daunting number of damp surveys in very quick succession. Working with her manager, she confidently took the reins and developed a plan to consolidate the list, and eventually completed the surveys ahead of schedule. She has a genuine desire to help people and encourage them to perform well, and through this positive attitude she has made a significant contribution to the ongoing success of IW’s EDDC contract.

Appendix: Download our shortlisted apprentices’ submissions below.