Trainee Technician Review

My role on a day to day basis is to draft technical drawings to the relevant standards and ensure that a design works and flag anything up that is a potential issue. I am also involved in a lot of ground modelling on a variety of different types of site. Part of my role also includes discussing designs with others as well as helping anybody that's having any software issues if I'm able to.

Throughout the course of the past two years I've learnt a lot of new things both in design and software use. I could already use AutoCAD but have developed this skill through on the job training as well as learning how to use other software effectively through both on the job training and internal and external courses. I've also done some training that helps you to understand design and how it's derived.

Over the last two years I've really enjoyed my training programme. The team that I work within are always very helpful and have taken the time to explain things to me in more detail than was necessary at that time in order for me to take that knowledge forward to use on future projects. I've also been able to work on a range of projects and get a feel for a lot of different types of work that we do so no two days have ever really been the same.

I feel very valued by Arup. I find it really nice that everyone takes the time to sit down and discuss things with you to help you progress in your career, and they're also proactive in ensuring that the work that you're doing is both interesting and when possible will also aid your progression. Internal recognition is also something that is a big thing in the office and if you're working well then people will congratulate you on that. Everybody seems to be extremely supportive of one another.

From Arup's perspective the programme is well organised. They have everything in place for when you start including someone for you to go to if you have any questions on anything. Training on software is also organised prior to you starting so that you're not left trying to figure out how to use something for an extended period of time. The college course hasn't been quite so well organised due to staffing changes and such at the college but Arup have spent a lot of time chasing queries/ worries up with them for us.

Support from the training provider isn't as good as it could be. Due to staffing changes and the college new build over the past couple of years there has been a lot of time spent not fully understanding where we're at and what the plan was. The NVQ assessments also weren't carried out as regularly as what they had originally planned which I think is pretty poor, although this hasn't prevented me from completing the course. Arup have been very good in chasing all of this up with the college though.

The support that I have received from my employer has been second to none. Everyone cares about your welfare and your career progression and it's such a nice way to work. I've been able to ask questions about what I'm working on and someone will know the answer but explain the reasoning so that you know why something is the way that it is, not just that it's done that way. I like this as I will be able to use the knowledge going forward on future designs.

The Arup apprenticeship pays well for an apprenticeship and does cover my living costs. If you include the additional benefits and training costs then it's a really good package and the salary reviews and increases being frequent over the two years have been quite good as it's enabled me to build my social life up since moving here.

There are lots of social events organised outside of work both as organised office events as well as randomly organised office nights out and such. There's also the opportunities to go into local schools and talk about working in engineering and other voluntary activities through the ICE.

Yes

Arup is a great place to work and I think that if you have the right mind set when it comes to work then there's a lot that you can learn and achieve working here.

The advice that I would give to anyone applying to Arup would be to ensure that this is what you want to do and be prepared to get stuck in. The application process was quite simple through the apprenticeship vacancies website and then there was an interview with a couple of assessments. I believe this process has changes slightly now in that there are team building activities and such as well as part of the interview process.