Apprentice Estimators

United Living is a leading infrastructure, construction, and property services company in the UK, comprised of four complementary businesses. We help our customers and the communities they serve benefit from resilient infrastructure, affordable homes, and improved living spaces that are fit for the future.

We invest in our people and firmly believe that our workforce is our most valuable asset. A driving force for success and the core to achieving our vision of creating a connected and sustainable future, our team is the heart of our organisation.

Building a diverse, inclusive, and equal working environment in which everyone is welcomed and encouraged to be themselves, is a commitment we are dedicated to. We believe that having a diverse workforce not only sets us up for success, but it allows for greater opportunities for innovation, adaptability, and wide-ranging capabilities. We empower our people, and our communities, to champion diversity and change every day.

We are a fast-paced, diverse, and hugely ambitious business. We welcome challengers, innovators and people who embrace change to establish yourself in a creative environment that champions freedom of expression and supports you in your personal and professional development – because together, we achieve more.

Job Description

This is an exciting time to join United Living on our Apprenticeship Programme as the business continues to grow and we have a significant order book of secured future projects.

Our Property Services business revitalises homes and communities through the regeneration of living spaces, breathing new life into neighbourhoods. We are looking for an Apprentice to join the Estimating team who calculate how much construction projects will cost, taking into account labour, material and equipment requirements. They will negotiate with suppliers and gain quotes from subcontractors and use this information to compile detailed cost proposals. Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the preparation, production, distribution and analysis of subcontractor/supplier/consultant enquiries and returns, ensuring all appropriate information is included and reviewed.
• Sending tender enquiries to supply chain partners in a timely manner.
• Undertaking and assisting with the comparisons of supply chain quotations.
• Preparing accurate take-offs from bid drawings.
• Assisting with compiling and presenting statistical data for pricing/bid analysis.
• Assisting with site measurements for different trade packages.
• Assisting the Estimator in the construction of accurate, competitive and timely bid submissions.
• Developing understanding and application of the use of company systems including Conquest Estimating/take-off software packages.
• Filing and distributing documents and drawings.
• Assisting with the preparation of Tender Summary documents.
• Learning and understanding the tender process from initial enquiry to handover.
• Assisting with administrative functions of the Estimating department.
• Developing understanding of construction methods and materials and their application.

As an Apprentice with United Living, you’ll be given a real job from day one where you will gain hands-on industry experience, and the knowledge required to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. You’ll be inspired and stretched professionally, but fully supported by an expert network of colleagues, as you work to build the foundations for a career within United Living, and the construction industry.

As part of your Apprenticeship, you will be enrolled onto the Level 4 Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship, which will be delivered by our training partner the University of Westminster. The programme is two years long and you will attend campus one day per week to study towards your qualification. You will be fully supported through a variety of methods such as lectures, learning materials, and one-to-one support from your tutor or coach. They will also meet regularly with you and your line manager to ensure you are progressing through your programme. Upon successful completion of your apprenticeship you will be awarded a Level 4 Construction Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship, a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management, and will automatically qualify for TechCIOB-L4 professional accreditation. You will then progress to the Level 6 Construction Quantity Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship programme.

To help you settle into your role, we’ll provide you with a buddy from our apprentice population. They will have some great advice as they were in exactly the same situation as you not so long ago, and you’ll also receive full support from your Line Manager and the Early Careers Team who will help guide you throughout your apprenticeship programme to help you achieve professional success.

Qualifications

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you have achieved, or be predicted to achieve in Summer 2025:

• One of the following level 3 qualifications, or equivalent, at the minimum level or above:
  • A Levels – BCC
  • International Baccalaureate or Access Course – 104 UCAS Tariff points
  • BTEC Ext Diploma – DMM
  • BTEC Diploma – D* D
• 5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4/A*-C including English and Mathematics
• Good IT skills and able to use Microsoft Office packages e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel etc.
• Good organisation, time management and communication skills.

You should also be available to start full-time work in September 2025 and have:

• The commitment to live and breathe our company values during your work and studies.
• The motivation and dedication to successfully complete your apprenticeship programme.

Additional Information

We are committed to nurturing your creativity, encouraging the freedom to express yourself and fostering a supportive culture that values both personal and professional development. United Living are on an exciting journey of growth and innovation and our Apprentice programme will provide you with a solid foundation for you to develop your skills for the future and build your career with us.

• Career Development – from the moment you join, you’ll be supported to develop, grow your skill set and progress your career the way you want.
• Cultivate – access to our idea and innovation platform, empowering you to drive positive business change.
• Discounts – access to our leisure and shopping discounts and rewards platform.
• Employee Networks – opportunity to join our organisation wide employee networks such as our Veteran’s Network, Women’s Network, and Young People’s Network which is dedicated to supporting and retaining employees in the early stages of their careers and empowers young employees and future leaders through Continuous Professional Development (CPD), Social Value and Team Building initiatives.
• Health and Wellbeing Support – access to our employee programme which includes access to a virtual GP and Dentist, mental health support and counselling, fitness and nutrition, and financial and legal advice.
• Health Cash Plan
• Payroll Giving – the opportunity to donate regularly from your gross pay to support charities of your choice.
• Pension – you will be eligible to join our pension scheme which we will also contribute to.
• Personal Support Network – you will receive a dedicated buddy and mentor and will join an early careers community of peers that will support you forward every step of the way.
• Reward and Award Schemes – access to our long service awards and above and beyond rewards.
• Social Value – you will be encouraged to support social impact activities each year to support charities and local community organisations.

How to apply

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We are proud to be a disability confident employer and are committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview, if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Please contact our Early Careers team at earlycareers@unitedliving.co.uk to discuss any access needs, reasonable adjustments or additional application support that may be required at any point during the recruitment process so we can discuss how we can support you.

If you are ready to be part of our expanding team and contribute to our success, please click the I’m interested button and submit an application. We recommend you apply as early as possible.