Meet Marcus.
Minor Works Estimator.
Marcus joined Hi-Tech as an apprentice with little construction-industry experience. Since then, he has progressed through service administration and into estimating—building commercial knowledge, confidence and responsibility at every stage.
“My apprenticeship gave me experience of a real working environment while allowing me to continue learning.”
Choosing experience, education and a route into work
Marcus chose an apprenticeship because it offered the best of both worlds: the opportunity to continue his education while gaining practical experience in a real workplace.
His first position at Hi-Tech was as an apprentice service administrator in the Fareham office. Although office-based rather than working on the tools, the role placed him directly at the centre of live maintenance delivery.
He quickly began learning how jobs move from the initial customer request through planning, attendance, updates and completion. That foundation would later prove invaluable as his career developed.
From learning the process to pricing the solution
Each position gave Marcus a deeper understanding of how Hi-Tech delivers work and prepared him for the next stage of his career.
Apprentice
Marcus entered the business while completing his studies, learning about construction, commercial property maintenance and the expectations of a professional working environment.
Service Administrator
He progressed into a permanent operational role, coordinating jobs, communicating with customer sites, organising resources and helping ensure works were completed properly.
Minor Works Estimator
Marcus now applies his operational knowledge to reviewing requirements, developing scopes and preparing estimates for minor works across Hi-Tech’s customer portfolio.
“The word I would use to describe my apprenticeship is learning. I gained knowledge of construction, the workplace and where the industry could take me.”
An apprenticeship with real responsibility
Marcus’s apprenticeship was not limited to classroom learning or observation. He became an active member of the service team and was trusted with responsibilities that directly affected customers and live jobs.
He helped book works, coordinate site attendance, assemble suitable delivery teams and maintain communication with customers throughout the job lifecycle.
That exposure gave him an understanding of both the operational detail and the customer-service standards required to deliver successful maintenance works.
- Working directly with live jobs and customer requirements
- Learning how different trades and resources are coordinated
- Developing confidence in professional communication
- Understanding what good service delivery looks like from start to finish
The experience that prepared him for estimating
Marcus’s operational background means he understands that a successful estimate must work in practice—not simply look correct on paper.
Customer understanding
Regular communication with customer sites taught Marcus how to clarify requirements, manage expectations and understand what the customer is trying to achieve.
Operational knowledge
Coordinating maintenance work gave him insight into access, labour, materials, sequencing, lead times and the practical challenges that affect delivery.
Commercial awareness
Moving into estimating has allowed Marcus to combine that practical understanding with pricing, scope development and commercial decision-making.
Turning customer requirements into deliverable minor works
As a minor works estimator, Marcus now supports the development and pricing of smaller project and improvement works across Hi-Tech’s commercial customer base.
His role involves understanding what is required, reviewing the available information, identifying the appropriate labour and materials and producing a clear, commercially considered proposal.
The experience gained in service administration gives him a practical perspective. He understands how work will be allocated, how sites operate and which details must be captured to give the delivery team the best chance of success.
Supported from the beginning
One of the things Marcus valued most during his apprenticeship was being treated as a genuine member of the team. Despite joining at the start of his career, he was included in the office environment and encouraged to contribute.
“We can all have a chat and a laugh, and I have always felt welcomed. I was never made to feel lower than anyone else because I was an apprentice.”
Your first role does not have to define your final destination
Marcus’s story shows what can happen when an apprenticeship provides real experience, meaningful responsibility and room to progress. Explore opportunities to begin or develop your own career at Hi-Tech.