Unitec graduates are not only achieving employment success through the work-based learning they go through, they are also able to apply their skills to help with the urgent needs of their community.

Scott Bufton enrolled in the Bachelor of Construction programme at Unitec in 2008 right after completing high school. On his second year, he started as a Quantity Surveyor (QS) cadet with Fletcher Construction, a leading New Zealand general contractor with a head office located in Auckland. In Auckland, he worked on two projects: the first was based at the head office and the second was based on site for a year, from the start to the finish of the project.

“This was a really good learning experience. My role was to look after numerous contractors and trades in all aspects of QS work, from creating subcontract agreements, to monthly payments, claims, forecasting, and managing the contractors throughout the job,” Scott explains.

In between, he had time off for lectures, exams and block courses at Unitec. Later, when Fletcher Construction was appointed by the Earthquake Commission (EQC) to project manage claims for repair and rebuilding of houses damaged in the earthquake in Christchurch, Scott saw “a once in a lifetime opportunity” and decided to relocate “to do (his) part in helping Christchurch.”

Scott believes his work-based learning experience has served him well. “My experience at Unitec has helped me in that it has been the theory behind the practical side. I have really benefited from working with Fletcher throughout my degree as I’ve been able to apply that knowledge and understand what I’ve been learning about at Unitec as I apply that knowledge on a day-to-day basis.”

In the last 7 months, Scott has been working for Fletcher EQR in Christchurch, working alongside the EQC and local contractors to manage the residential repairs. “Down here it’s all a numbers game. We’re trying to push through as many residential repairs as we can to get all the residents of Christchurch back in their homes and living a normal life. My main role is accepting the quotes and making sure that the contractors are being fair and reasonable so that the EQC are getting value for money.”

“The February quake was a major setback as the main focus changed and we were predominately undertaking emergency works in order to make houses safe and liveable. But now we’re well under way with the residential repairs and have a huge team of contractors on board carrying out these repairs throughout the whole of the Canterbury Region,” Scott says.

Scott is currently in his final year of study and carrying out his industry project. He plans to hand in his work in less than a month, at which stage he’d be all finished with his studies.

“I look forward to graduating early next year and being able to fully focus on work,” Scott says.