The company
CQS Solutions, a leading firm of quantity surveyors, has built its reputation on developing talent through apprenticeships and training.
With offices in Telford, Mid Wales and Birmingham, the business has grown continually over the past 15 years, crediting much of its success to the quality of its people.
Over the last decade CQS has supported seven employees through university, including Associate Director Richard Vickers. Each studied for a degree in quantity surveying one day a week while working the other four, combining academic learning with practical experience.
The apprentice
One of the latest success stories is 20-year-old Rainers Lazdans from Shrewsbury. While studying for a T Level in construction at Shrewsbury College, he spent one day a week at CQS building his workplace skills.
His commitment paid off. He passed his T Level, secured a full-time role with CQS and this autumn began a degree apprenticeship. He has already been appointed the course liaison on his degree studies, taking feedback from students and presenting it to the university.
Rainers says:
“I wanted to challenge myself to achieve the highest qualification I could and the apprenticeship route was the best option. It is giving me skills for life and has allowed me to become part of a brilliant team at CQS.”
Richard Vickers has seen his progress first-hand:
“When he first started, I asked him to take phone calls and he looked calm and comfortable with it. He has excelled at almost everything I have asked him to do since.
“He is beginning to master the fundamentals of drawings, taking off and billing, and his Excel skills have come on rapidly. He now keeps clear notes and maintains tidy, auditable records.”
The next step will see Rainers paired with a senior colleague on larger projects, applying his developing skills to real-world challenges.
Richard adds:
“From there, we’ll explore where his interests lie. Quantity surveying offers many paths and he can go as far as he wants to.”
The outcome
Rainers has already become a valued member of the team, bringing energy, focus and a willingness to learn. His journey shows how CQS’s investment in apprenticeships pays off, creating skilled professionals who strengthen the business and shape its future.
Richard adds:
“The commitment we and Rainers have made will deliver results quickly. He is already taking on more responsibility and in time will be running projects and managing clients. That is the real return on apprenticeships – talent that grows with the business and drives it forward.”