Matthew Hitchcock
Study Type: Apprenticeship
Study Location: Hudson Building
Subject Studied: Professional Construction
Peak Award winner Matthew on course to become quantity surveyor
Award-winning trainee quantity surveyor Matthew Hitchcock said his Derby College studies and workplace training complemented each other “perfectly” to launch his career.
West Hallam teenager Matthew enjoyed studying maths and product design at Kirk Hallam Community Academy.
He had an idea even then that he might go into quantity surveying, and periods spent on work experience with construction company Bowmer & Kirkland, and its subsidiary, Keyclad, reinforced the plan.
When Matthew left school with good grades, he landed an apprenticeship with Keyclad at Heage, where he had already forged some links.
His line managers encouraged him to take the Derby College BTEC Extended Diploma in Construction and The Built Environment.
Matthew said he was excited by the course – saying it provided a broad overview of its subject matter and it “really helped him”.
Matthew studied in college for a day-and a-half-a week for two years, completing the extended course with three distinction stars and he was named apprentice of the Year at the College’s Peak Awards.
Now, through Keyclad, he is studying one day a week at Nottingham Trent University for a Bachelor of science degree.
After that he is planning to gain his RICS qualifications to become a chartered surveyor.
I think the diversity of the college course really helped me, because we learnt about design, as well as measurement and project management. It was quite varied and you got a good overview. I learnt things at college that I couldn't learn at work. On the other hand, I learned a lot of things at work which transferred into my college essays, studies, and also helped my input into the classes. It came together perfectly. I felt lucky to have the support of such professional lecturers. One of the best things was working with various students, because a lot of us work in different industries. The students all had different ideas and we brought them all together.