Apprentice Civil Engineer Review

In my day to day, I am out on site marking up tasks for the guys on site, doing as-builts and taking photos. When I am in the office, I draw up my asbuilts done on site along with other CAD tasks. Additionally I write permit to break grounds and review utility drawings, ALARP certificates and heat maps for the areas where the permit to break ground is for.

Yes, during my time in the apprenticeship so far, I have learnt various techniques for setting out, how to detect services with an RD8200 and using this information to write a permit to break ground, how my uni learning links to the workplace and vice versa and in general how to communicate with different teams of people/client team/subcontractors .

Within Balfour Beatty there is an early careers programme which is aimed at apprentices and graduates in their first 2 years. Within this, I have done residentials, training courses and modules to improve my skills in communication, management and understanding myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it meant I got to meet new people in similar positions as me.

I have my uni day one day a week and then I work the other 4 days a week. In my first 2 years of my apprenticeship I did the early careers programme and now I am part of the early careers plus programme which means I still get put on training courses to help me continue on with my workplace knowledge.

I receive plenty of support from my line manager and other colleagues in the workplace to support my uni learning and workplace learning. I additionally have 2 PDRs a year to ensure I am progressing how I should be in the workplace and getting the training I need to develop my career.

I have progress reviews with the university every 3-4 months to check up on my progress both at uni and in the workplace. They also ensure I am achieving my attributes within my ICE IPD and they make sure I am getting all the help I need with my uni modules.

At uni, I have been learning a lot about structural engineering which has been a struggle to put into practice in the workplace. I have done one surveying module which was useful and a report writing module which I apply the techniques learnt from that in the workplace.

We sometimes have sporting activities and meals out within the office to bond better as a team.

Yes

The company invests a lot of time and money into their early careers employees to help us become the best that we can be and to get the most out of the job role. The hours are also quite sociable and I havent had to work any weekends or evenings/nights.

Be yourself, be enthusiastic and be proud of the knowledge you have already from college/high school etc. And dont forget to show that you are passionate about what you are applying for and mistakes are not a bad thing as they help you learn.