Kallum Baker

New graduate Kallum joined the construction company Morgan Sindall in December 2022 as a Quantity Surveyor. Kallum is now back on campus in Hatfield as part of the team building the new multi-million-pound home for the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS). This new building will be a world-leading hub for innovation, research and enterprise.  Kallum says, 'The SPECS building is definitely the largest and most exciting project I have worked on. It feels good to be back on campus though slightly strange! I am looking forward to giving something back to the University via the new SPECS building, which will help attract more students and provide them with even better facilities and learning environment to achieve their very best at university.'

Learning whilst earning

Kallum has already been working in the construction industry for over five years and studied at Herts part-time alongside full-time work. His university lecturers taught him at college for his Level 4 HNC and they inspired him to continue with his qualifications. Kallum says, 'My lecturers are the main reason I came to Herts. I knew that they would be able to offer me the individual time and support I required to succeed on the degree programme. The enthusiasm of the lecturers and the level of engagement were brilliant, which fully allowed me to give my best.'

'I also enjoyed how the different modules linked back to my role at work. This helped me gain a better understanding of what I was studying and enabled me to use my knowledge directly in the workplace.  My favourite area was studying sustainable and modern construction methods. As part of this module, I produced a technical report which I presented to my directors at work. My recommendations were then put forward to be used on the project I was working on at the time. It was a brilliant experience to be able to present my work to my employer.'

'Gaining a degree gave me the confidence to work on larger scale projects, professionally progress on a quicker timescale, and move from an Assistant Quantity Surveyor to a Quantity Surveyor.'

Thinking about a career in construction? Here is Kallum’s advice

'My advice would be to always put yourself out of your comfort zone whilst studying and in your graduate role. During my course, I experienced a wide range of modules, which did not always link to my role at work. The ones I was not so comfortable with put me out of my comfort zone, but then enabled me to learn more and become a better Quantity Surveyor as I now have a much broader knowledge of the industry.'

'Being in the construction industry, and particularly working for Morgan Sindall, has opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities available and how different each job role is. There are 3D modellers, social media managers, graphic designers, and community engagement managers – roles you wouldn’t naturally associate with the building world. There’s so many opportunities and I’d highly recommend that others explore a career in construction.'

More about the SPECS building

The SPECS building is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024. To follow its progress, or for more details about the University of Hertfordshire’s SPECS Building Capital Campaign, visit School of Engineering, Physics and Computer Science (SPECS) Building.