Apprentice of the Month - August 26
August Apprentice of the Month: Fran Price
We are delighted to announce that Fran Price from Vistry has been named our Apprentice of the Month, following an incredible four nominations from her Line Manager, Sam, colleague Sammy, Tutor Michael and Support Coach Diane.
The award recognises apprentices who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their learning, consistently go above and beyond in the workplace and make a genuine contribution to their employer. Fran has demonstrated all of these qualities throughout her apprenticeship, combining outstanding academic performance with increasing responsibility within Vistry’s commercial team.
From taking on new commercial responsibilities and achieving Distinction grades, to responding positively to feedback and supporting others interested in Quantity Surveying, Fran has shown a level of commitment and maturity that has made her stand out among her peers.
Fran’s Line Manager, Sam, has seen her development throughout the apprenticeship and was quick to recognise the progress she has made.
Sam said:
“Fran continues to be an exceptional member of the commercial team and has demonstrated outstanding progress over the review period. Since joining the business, she has consistently displayed a positive attitude, strong work ethic and a genuine desire to learn and develop within the Quantity Surveying profession.”
Fran has embraced every opportunity to expand her knowledge and has shown that she is not afraid to step outside her comfort zone.
Sam continued:
“She embraces every opportunity to broaden her knowledge and is always willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities.”
Sam highlighted the progress she has made so far:
“Over the last few months, Fran has taken on a significantly greater role within our commercial processes. She is now managing the majority of payments across both projects and has become increasingly involved in preparing enquiries, reviewing tender submissions and carrying out tender analysis.”
Her growing responsibilities demonstrate the confidence Vistry has placed in Fran and the progress she has made in developing her commercial knowledge.
Sam explained:
“Fran has developed her confidence when dealing with subcontractors and colleagues and is becoming more comfortable communicating with individuals at all levels of the business.”
“She actively seeks clarification when required and consistently asks thoughtful questions that help further her understanding of both technical and commercial matters.”
This proactive approach, combined with her attention to detail, has allowed Fran to make excellent progress in a relatively short period of time.
Academic excellence alongside workplace success
Fran’s achievements within the workplace have been matched by an impressive academic record.
She has achieved Distinctions in Units 12 and 23, demonstrating the commitment she applies to both her studies and her professional development.
Sam said:
“Her academic achievements are equally impressive, and the distinctions achieved in Units 12 and 23 reflect the commitment and effort she applies to both her studies and her role.”
Balancing apprenticeship studies with increasing workplace responsibilities is a significant achievement, and Fran has demonstrated that she can perform strongly in both areas.
Sam added:
“Fran should be very proud of what she has achieved so far.”
Looking ahead, Fran is continuing to develop the skills and knowledge needed to progress within Quantity Surveying.
“I look forward to continuing to support her development and seeing her progress towards managing packages independently from procurement through to final account.”
Going above and beyond
Fran’s colleague, Sammy, also wanted to recognise the impact she has within the team.
Her nomination spoke volumes about Fran’s everyday approach to work and learning:
“Fran goes above and beyond each and everyday, her attention to detail as well as her proactive attitude to learning is a breath of fresh air.”
This commitment to going beyond what is expected has become a defining part of Fran’s apprenticeship.
Whether she is taking on additional responsibility, developing her technical knowledge or looking for ways to improve her work, Fran consistently demonstrates an enthusiasm to learn and contribute.
Turning feedback into achievement
Fran’s Tutor, Michael, nominated her in recognition of the commitment, determination and positive attitude she has demonstrated throughout her apprenticeship.
For Michael, Fran’s nomination was about much more than the final grades she has achieved. It was about the effort and development behind those results.
He explained:
“My nomination is not based simply on the final grades she has achieved; it is based on the journey, effort, and professional behaviours behind those achievements.”
One of the strongest examples of Fran’s development has been her work on Unit 23: Construction Economics and Sustainability.
During the formative assessment stage, Fran had produced good-quality work, but there were some areas that required development.
What impressed Michael most was the way Fran responded to his feedback.
“Importantly, Fran did not view this feedback negatively. Instead, she responded constructively, engaged with the guidance provided and worked to substantially develop her submission.”
The result was a significant improvement in the quality and depth of her final assignment.
Michael explained:
“The difference between Fran’s formative work and her final submission was significant.”
Fran went on to achieve all Pass criteria (P1–P8), all Merit criteria (M1–M4) and all Distinction criteria (D1–D3), resulting in a Distinction-standard outcome.
For Michael, however, the achievement was about much more than the grade itself.
“More importantly, Fran demonstrated her ability to learn from the assessment process rather than simply complete a task.”
Applying construction knowledge in practice
Fran’s final Unit 23 assignment demonstrated an increasingly sophisticated understanding of construction and commercial principles.
Using the Mersey Gateway Bridge as her principal case study, Fran explored a wide range of topics, including drawing reviews, Bills of Quantities, a detailed Schedule of Works, procurement, sustainability and whole-life considerations.
Michael highlighted the development demonstrated in her work:
“Her final work demonstrated increasingly sophisticated construction knowledge and application.”
“She considered global economic comparisons, explored the interaction between inflation, material prices and labour costs, and critically considered procurement through the PPP/DBFOM arrangements associated with the project.”
Michael believes Fran’s ability to connect different aspects of construction demonstrates important professional development.
“This showed that she was beginning to connect individual construction topics rather than treating economics, procurement, sustainability and project delivery as isolated subjects.”
Resilience and continuous improvement
One of Fran’s strongest qualities is her response to constructive feedback.
Michael explained:
“As an assessor, I place considerable value on what a learner does after receiving formative feedback.”
“Fran demonstrated that she could identify weaknesses in an earlier submission, respond to detailed guidance, and then produce work at a considerably higher standard.”
This resilience is a quality that will continue to benefit Fran throughout her career.
Michael added:
“The progression from an incomplete formative position to achieving the full range of Pass, Merit and Distinction criteria demonstrates resilience, determination and a willingness to improve.”
“This is excellent professional behaviour because the construction industry depends on review, revision and continuous improvement.”
An exceptional apprentice
Fran’s Support Coach, Diane, also praised her ability to perform beyond the expectations of her apprenticeship level.
She said:
“Fran is an exceptional apprentice who consistently performs beyond the expectations of her apprenticeship level and has achieved distinction grades throughout her programme.”
For Diane, what makes Fran particularly impressive is the way she applies her academic learning directly to her workplace.
“Her academic success reflects her commitment, determination and willingness to continuously improve, but what truly sets Fran apart is the way she translates her learning into workplace performance.”
“She has developed a strong understanding of tendering, procurement, construction economics and sustainability, applying this knowledge directly to live projects.”
Fran has also expanded her technical understanding through regular site visits, gaining valuable insight into groundworks, construction sequencing and the commercial significance of major packages.
“Through regular site visits, she has also expanded her technical understanding of groundworks activities, construction sequencing and the commercial significance of major packages, demonstrating a level of technical and commercial awareness beyond that expected of an apprentice at her stage.”
Trusted with greater responsibility
As Fran’s knowledge and confidence have grown, she has become increasingly trusted within the commercial team.
Diane explained:
“Fran has become a trusted and valued member of the commercial team, taking ownership of responsibilities that demonstrate both capability and maturity.”
Fran now manages many payments across two projects and has been trusted with preparing subcontractor enquiries, undertaking tender analysis and supporting procurement activities.
Her approach demonstrates an increasingly strong understanding of commercial decision-making.
Diane said:
“She has developed the ability to analyse quotations, compare rates and assess value rather than simply selecting the lowest-cost option, demonstrating sound commercial judgement and professional accountability.”
“Her confidence and independence have grown significantly, and she increasingly contributes to decision-making discussions with colleagues and subcontractors.”
These achievements demonstrate Fran’s growing technical and commercial capability while also highlighting her emerging leadership potential.
Supporting future talent
Fran’s impact extends beyond her own role and development.
During a recent Progress Review with Diane, Fran discussed her involvement in supporting work experience students who were interested in commercial and Quantity Surveying careers.
Rather than simply demonstrating routine tasks, Fran took the time to explain technical and commercial concepts in a way that was engaging.
Diane said:
“Fran took the time to explain technical and commercial concepts in a way that was easy to understand, helping them gain confidence and insight into the profession.”
“She demonstrated patience, professionalism and the ability to adapt her communication style to suit her audience, all key leadership skills.”
For someone at this stage of her career, Fran’s willingness to support and encourage others is particularly impressive.
Diane added:
“Her ability to lead by example, share knowledge, support colleagues and encourage future talent is remarkable for someone at her stage of development.”
A future Quantity Surveyor to watch
Across all four nominations, Fran’s commitment to her apprenticeship and professional development is clear.
Diane concluded:
“Combined with her continued academic excellence, growing workplace responsibilities and consistently positive attitude, Fran is an outstanding ambassador for her employer and apprenticeship programme and is a highly deserving candidate for Apprentice of the Month.”
Fran has shown that success is not simply about achieving excellent grades. It is about being willing to learn, accepting feedback, taking responsibility and continually looking for ways to improve.
Fran responded to this recognition saying:
“I'm incredibly grateful to have been recognised as Apprentice of the Month. The support from my colleagues and mentors has helped me develop both professionally and personally. I'm excited to continue learning and progressing throughout my apprenticeship.”
Congratulations Fran! Your dedication to your learning, commitment to Vistry, and willingness to support those around you make you a truly deserving recipient of this recognition.
We look forward to seeing your continued development and all that you achieve as your career progresses. 👏