Track design apprentice Review

I am a member of the track team at Campus. Currently i am working on CAD mainly to produce drawings for HS2. I am responsible for making sure the drawings are in the best state they can be in by completing mark ups and addressing comments. I also set up these drawings. Once a week i attend college where i am doing a btec level 3 in engineering.

Before joining Arup i was doing my gcses at school, so i had little knowledge of anything work related when i was first starting out. Since then i have developed my CAD skills from working on it day to day, and i have also improved on my own social skills from communicating with more senior members of staff.

The jobs i complete at work can be repetitive at times due to the large number of drawings that are needed by HS2. However most of the times the work i'm doing is enjoyable and i think the workload is manageable. My team are there for me if i need support and i can ask them questions if i need to.

I believe Arup treat all the staff well. Staff are given annual pay reviews where salary can be increased every year based on performance. The benefits system is also good in Arup as we are given alot of different options such as free eye tests, private healthcare, and the ability to buy and sell annual leave days.

Overall i think the programme is structured in a good way. Upon starting i attended many induction training courses and online courses that enabled me to understand what Arup is and what is expected in the company. I have a common meeting with my training officer who keeps me on track with my NVQ and college work. I am happy with the support i receive from team members and college tutors.

My training officer visits my office every few weeks, he keeps me on track with my NVQ and i keep him informed on any issues with work or at college. He checks through my portfolio and makes sure everything is acceptable, if not he will show me what else could be added to imporve my work.

My manager approves my training courses, annual leave and he is available to me to ask questions most of the time. The HR team here is very good as they keep in contact with staff regularly and make sure any problems are solved quickly. My mentor is always around if i have a question with a college assignment or a query about my day to day work.

I believe the salary is good, i have a good amount of money each month which allows me to pay for my monthly outgoings. I have to pay for a bus pass to get to work, but soon i will have a car so my journey will become easier, but probably more expensive. I always have enough money to go out and buy things if i want to, so overall i believe the salary is ideal for me.

There are plenty of out of work events, like meetings from institutions, company social events/meals and online seminars that you can watch. Staff can also go out to local schools and show what the company has to offer. There are also many clubs in Arup like the football team etc that staff can attend and they run quite often.

Yes

Arup provides a good, friendly atmosphere to work in, the work given is interesting and enjoyable and there is something for everyone here. They treat staff well and value everyone here. All of the staff here are willing to help you with any problems you may have.

Show a genuine interest in the company and the sort of work that people do here. Expect to complete practical activities aswell as formal interviews during the assessment day. Be polite and show enthusiasm when completing tasks. Get to know other apprentices as they will be who you are working with in the future.