Brooke Weston Academy

Well done to Thomas Leak, Y12, who has been offered a degree-level quantity surveying apprenticeship opportunity, with Kori Construction, after impressing them during a weeks’ work experience placement with their commercial team. 

Thomas was thrilled to accept the offer and will commence the apprenticeship during Summer 2025 upon completion of his A-levels and will enrol to complete a Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons) degree at Nottingham Trent University on a part-time basis. 

During Thomas’ week of work experience at Kori he:  

• Sat in on several management meetings to further his understanding of both commercial management and construction 

• Supported the Quantity Surveyors by effectively completing a range of tasks for them 

• Successfully completed a student project where he had to cost, plan, and design a fictional Public Realm Development whilst considering sustainability impacts and stakeholder engagement  

• Visited one of the KORI local care home projects at Milton Keynes to have a tour of a live building project and work with the project quantity surveyor to understand the commercial valuation process 

Elaine Kendall, Head of Sustainability & Communications at Kori Construction said, ‘Following meeting Thomas at Brooke Weston’s careers fair earlier this year, Thomas took the initiative to contact me to enquire about the possibility of work experience with our commercial team, as he was interested in pursuing a career in quantity surveying. We were extremely pleased to support his request, especially as Thomas had shown true commitment by volunteering to undertake the placement during his school holiday to fit in with his studies. 

‘Thomas proved to be a valuable member of Team Kori, communicating well with everyone, displaying maturity beyond his years, and delivering every task to exceptionally high standards. Everyone was incredibly impressed with Thomas’ performance during the entire week, so much so that our Commercial Director, Kyle Fielding, offered Thomas a degree-level quantity surveying apprenticeship opportunity.  

‘Supporting the next generation of construction workers by providing work placements helps to narrow the skills gap and prepare young people for the world of work by enhancing their skill sets and development of soft skills. It also allows them to learn more about potential career pathways and roles to help ensure their chosen profession is right for them.

'Work placements are vitally important to not only help address the construction industry’s skills shortage, but also to support the future economy, and we are delighted to work in partnership with leading education providers, such as Brooke Weston Academy, to support their learners.’