Quest is an international transfer program which connects Arcadians from all over the world. Quest is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation. Every week we are highlighting one of the stories our employees who went on an exchange. In this blogpost we cover the Quest story of Jacqueline Qi who traveled from Hong Kong to London.
“During my Quest, I could see how teams are well engaged in the projects, which resulted in a positive work culture!”
Why did I apply for a Quest
My name is Jacqueline Qi. I am a quantity surveyor from Hong Kong Office. On May 14th to May 18th, I went on a Quest to London in the UK. My main purpose of this Quest was to get a global experience. By meeting professionals from the other side of the world, I was able to share project experiences, develop collaborative opportunities and help gain an insight in to the direction of my personal development. I was also very eager to find out if the UK and Hong Kong share any differences or similarities regarding team cultures and office environments.
Highlight of my Quest experience
I gained the most from my Quest by visiting different teams in the UK. My host Deborah Nutt and many other colleagues were very helpful and made my whole experience fruitful every day.
Day 1 – Site Visit at Deephams STW
On my first day, I visited the Deephams STW site. During the site visit, I learned about the construction and operation of a sewage treatment plant, including getting an insight in the workings of special features such as the use of combined heat and power and gas to grid. I was amazed to see the combined capabilities that Arcadis can provide. With a group of project managers, quantity surveyors and engineers on site, we are able to act as the main consultants for a large-scale project.
Day 2 – Visit to Southern Water team
On the second day of my Quest, I went to Brighton to visit the Southern Water team in a client office. We discussed the differences between the NEC contracts used in the UK and the contracts we use in Hong Kong. In some way, it reflects the contractor-client relationship and willingness of risk sharing in different markets. With my hosts of the day, Michael and Natasha, I enjoyed a quick lunch in the University of Sussex. The weather was amazing.
Day 3 – Sharing in Infrastructure Team
The next day, I went back to Arcadis House and spent a day with the infrastructure team. I joined a skype call in the morning and discussed the pro’s and con’s of CostX (a software for cost management). Through meeting with cost consultants in the team, I studied some interesting projects such as High Speed 2 and whole life costing of Rotherhithe Bridge.
Day 4 – Sharing in Building Team and Site Visit to Peninsula London
On the fourth day, I joined the building team, where I saw more similarities with my job back in Hong Kong. Later in the afternoon, I visited The Peninsula London site. This project uses a Construction Management contract, which is interesting as we rarely have this type of procurement arrangement in Hong Kong. After work, I joined the free bar at Arcadis House. It is a great chance for colleagues to have fun together and to connect.
Day 5 – Sharing in Environment Team and Final Presentation
On my last day, I visited the environmental team, which was also a highlight. I am always keen to know how we achieve sustainability in a construction environment. We shared experience on BREEAM assessments, sustainability strategies for Heathrow Airport, master planning and sustainable urban development.
Learnings and experiences
Going on a Quest is an eye-opening experience. I get to see how teams in another region work together collaboratively. By visiting sites and sharing projects, I am excited to learn about the wide range of services that Arcadis can deliver to its clients. I definitely see more opportunities for my personal growth.
The international transfer program Quest, which connects Arcadians from all over the world, is sponsored by the Lovinklaan Foundation.
