Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Review

My role is a civil engineering apprentice. I must be able to support other engineers and technicians whenever possible whilst developing my self to become a future civil engineering technician. I handle things such has, comparing forecast cost to actual cost, audit contractors inspections so there is no errors when we approve their works. Instruct work and can go out around London looking at potential projects.

Currently I am doing an external training course which is developing my management and supervisory skills in order to communicate with team members and other stakeholders with in different scenarios. The qualification I hope to gain out of the apprenticeship is a BTEC level 3 in civil engineering with a view to either join my employers as a full time worker or go to university with my employers sponsoring me to eventually get a degree in civil engineering.

I enjoy my programme very much as I am someone who thrives and gives my best when given a challenging task to do. As long as I am able to effectively balance my work load to my education load, then I will always feel at piece when going to work or whenever there is a deadline due for a college assignment or work tasks. The culture with in the company is a very relaxed culture with an high determination to succeed in all aspect in the company.

When I first arrive to work for Transport for London I was not sure about my own future as the company has gone through a 2 year change where many people have either left their jobs or have had a change in job role with in the company. I tried to find so some form of assurance by asking senior members about my position in which they valued me as a great asset for the future of the company but I still seem to feel under valued as once I have finished my apprenticeship and turn full time, I am also vulnerable to the big changes.

My programme is did not start as a very well organised programme as it took me more than 6 months to finally get a full time sponsor that I can seek for advise or to ask for annual leave. As time went on since the start of the programme I have seen a few positive changes in order for the programme to become more structured as me and other apprentices have now been given targets in what to achieve but not just for the short term goal of passing the apprenticeship for but long term goals to help us have a more senior role with in the company.

The support from the external course I do is very supportive as they tend organise small one on one meetings with me or a group session with me and the other apprentices to see how well we are progressing in the course. In terms of my college work, I have not received much support over the last 6 months but since I have changed placements there has been more offers for support.

Transport for London will put you in teams that show each other support all the time, so when you are struggling the support you receive will be more than what you will expect.

For an apprentice I know Transport for London do pay one of the highest wages in the country so for that I am happy with as well as given the knowledge that I well be given a performance review in order to get a annual pay rise until I become a full time staff member. When looking at my costs compared to my salary for each month I feel very comfortable as I know I save money.

There are many different event and activities you can sign up to do. The other apprentices and I have started a 5 a side football time to join the Transport for London engineering league so we get to play senior members who we rarely get to see on a normal day as this allow us to pick their brains for further knowledge as we build a relationship with them.

Yes

Due to the opportunity to work for one of the biggest companies which really is a major factor on why London is a very well organised city and is a city which other major cities look at for ideas on how to commercially become successful. The wages for an apprenticeship is one of the highest in the country as well as TFL does provide you with many benefits such as free Travel through out London.

To state your ambitions and use effective words and sentences to highlight your aspirations in the role you are applying for on your C.V. Use the internet to research a bit of the history of TFL and what targets they aspire to reach along with the type of working culture they believe in to. Use the knowledge you have researched and use it to your advantage when you are answering questions during your interview.