Tom Bourke Assistant Cost Consultant, UK
When I became a qualified plumber, I realised very quickly that although I didn’t want to pursue a career in the plumbing trade I was still very keen to pursue a career within construction and the built environment.
I then took a job in the infrastructure industry in 2014, working as a track maintenance operative whilst completing a railway engineering apprenticeship. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my two years on site experience, I wished to pursue a different career path in quantity surveying. So in 2016 I joined Network Rail’s commercial apprenticeship scheme on the Thameslink programme where I completed my level 3 quantity surveying course.
On completion of my apprenticeship and AssocRICS with Network Rail I chose to join Currie & Brown as I was keen to undertake consultancy work. I had met some Currie & Brown staff during my time on the Thameslink programme and was impressed with what they had to offer.
The main thing that working at Currie & Brown has taught me so far is how to manage and interact with clients and appreciate the different abilities and interests which stakeholders have. When I first joined I found this quite challenging, but after speaking with colleagues and gaining more experience I believe I have improved at this.
The main thing I enjoy about my role as an assistant cost consultant is the variety of work activities each day, which require me to use a wide range of skills.
My future aspirations are to complete the quantity surveying degree which I started in 2019, and to pass my APC to become a RICS chartered quantity surveyor. While I complete these milestones I am always taking on more responsibility on the projects I work on.
