Mohammed left and Anas right, onsite at a Winvic construction site in Birmingham.
“A T Level was just right for me. Doing a placement has easily been so important for my practical skills growth. What you learn in a classroom is completely different to what you learn onsite. Everyone here at Winvic Construction has told me this, and now I understand it’s true. The experience you get working onsite, you can’t match it to anything else, you just can’t.”
Mohammed Sammad, T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management
Curious what life is like on a T Level course, which balances classroom study with real work placements? Or, just want to get into an exciting construction career with a course that lets you find the area you are meant to be in?
We interviewed two of our brilliant students on their second and final year of a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management course, Anas and Mohammed. They are doing their placement together with Winvic Construction in Birmingham. Let’s meet the lads!
My name is Anas Ahmed and I’m doing a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management. I am in my second and final year of the course, doing placements weekly at Winvic Construction’s Birmingham office and construction sites.
Honestly, I’ve just had a passion for construction ever since I was at secondary school, when I did Design & Technology. I’ve always had an interest in building stuff. I liked doing projects where I had to plan it, design it, buy all the assets myself – I just grew my love for construction there. I’m also the first in my family to go into construction.
Why did you study at our college? When I was looking for my courses, South & City College Birmingham has always been top recommended by family and friends. I went on their website, found an amazing T Level course and I pursued it.
What’s your long-term life goal? At the start of my T Level I wanted to be a Site Manager, but as I got to work with different departments and to try different jobs I think, right now, my main focus is to be a Site Engineer. (Site Engineers are more technical problem-solving and engineering focused)
What does a week on your T Level look like? For my T Level, currently we are doing 2 days at placement, and 3 days in college. For my placement days, sometimes we are on a construction site, sometimes we are in the office doing other work.
The placement part has 100% been so important for my development. What you learn in the classroom, or out there on site, is completely different. I think you will learn crucial life skills while you are on-site, or at placement.
Every single one of the staff at the college has been helpful to me on the way.
How has the college supported you? The college has supported me a lot on my T Level. One of the biggest things that helped me is definitely paying for my transport, giving me a bus pass. That obviously saved me money and stress.
My Placement Officer Pam helped me a lot with logging in my hours, placement details, knowing what days I’m going in. If I have problems with anything on my placement, she helps me. Also my tutors, they are always telling me how good of a job I’m doing, what things to do or not to do. They’re very helpful.
How have Winvic helped? Honestly, everyone at Winvic has been helpful, every department. If I’ve had questions about software I go to certain people, if I have questions about the work I’m doing I can go to anyone, and they will be more than happy to help.
One thing that shocked me the most was how, just 2 weeks in, Winvic were already giving me tasks to complete independently with my mentor onsite. It’s one thing being trusted to do work in the office, but trusting me to be onsite in my opinion is a great sign of respect.
My name is Mohammed Sammad, and the course that I’m studying at the moment is a T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Management.
What got me into Construction? Now, that’s a good question. When I left school I did study art, which made me want to do construction. But what boosted me was that my father and my uncle both know a lot about construction and that made me want to do it too. I was interested in designing buildings and how they were made, and the architecture of them.
Why did you study at our college? Obviously it’s local, which is important, but really and truly I heard good news about it from my family. My father, my cousin and even two of my uncles have studied at South & City College Birmingham. I heard that this T Level is a very good course, so that’s why I chose to study here.
What’s your long-term life goal? Hopefully my next step is to either start an apprenticeship, or if not, go to university. The end goal is to be a Senior Site Engineer.
This course has helped me develop a lot, because I don’t think I would have known anything about construction. How buildings are made, how they have to get everything precise to the nearest millimetre. It’s helped me a lot.
What does a week on your T Level look like? Right now, for my second year, every Tuesday and Friday I am on placement, which I do from 8 til 5. I like to come in early and I leave late. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I am at college.
At the college, I have very good tutors. I get taught about surveying on Monday. On Wednesday and Thursday, they teach us everything else we have to know. Pam, my Placement Officer, has helped me out a lot in my placement, she’s a gem. My other two teachers, Susanna and Ian, are also helping me out a lot in my course.
Has the placement been useful? A T Level was just right for me. Doing a placement has easily been so important for my practical skills and growth. What you learn in a classroom is completely different to what you learn onsite. Everyone here at Winvic Construction has told me this, and now I understand it’s true. The experience you get working onsite, you can’t match it to anything else, you just can’t.
How has Winvic helped? Everyone at my placement has been good to me. At Winvic Construction, when they give us work, we can go to anyone and they are more than willing to help. They’ll take the time out of their day to help us out.
Doing a placement with another student has been great. It’s improved both of our communication skills, how we can interact with people, and how we complete work. We do get a lot of work together, and we get it all done to a higher standard.
Thanks so much and well done, Anas and Mohammed, our T Level success stories. And also to Winvic Construction, and the staff who made the boys’ journey so useful.
