Engineering Technician Review

My daily role consists of working as a site engineer in the prefabrication department, I frequently work with other site engineers, section engineers and steel fixing supervisors, I manage my own section in the department in which I am responsible for all processes including quality checks and ordering of materials for my area, as well as tracking other processes that link together with my work.

Since I have started I have learned a vast amount of new skills and significantly developed current skills, I have learned new industry specific skills such as setting out and checking this has been done by attending courses on the subject and practical application of this, I have also significantly improved skills such as communication as I have to frequently deal with and convey information to supervisors and their gangs, as well as speaking to them about any problems encountered and if there has been a problem that need fixed post construction.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my programme since I started, I think that the block release has aloud us to enjoy the social aspect of the courses as we have bonded well as a cohort during block release, this has also benefited out daily roles as we usually spend a bit of time on residential having a catch up about what we are doing and discussing informally how it all links together.

I would say the programme is well structured both the work and the university have clear lines of communication, this is essential as when we are not at university or out on site (most the time) we need to be sure on who we can contact if we have a problem at work or a question about university work.

Our employer is very supportive both at university and at work, the obvious benefit that we have is that we work alongside practising engineers daily this means that we have the best resource to ask questions to when we are stuck, we also have reviews while at university with our academic mentor and an employee mentor as to our progress and what we can improve on.

Our training provider is the University of Exeter we are supported well as we have constant communication with out tutors who are all willing and eager to help out when we are at work, we discuss our progress in tripartite meeting we have with our personal tutor and mentor and discuss areas from improvement and how we can improve and what to work on while at not at university.

I would say that what we do daily at work is not something that is a direct link to what we have been studying at university in our first year however I can make the links and I do believe that what we study allows us to gain a more grounded understanding of why we are doing what we are doing.

I sometimes play football weekly at the workers campus in Bridgwater with other apprentices and colleagues in their areas this helps out as it allows us to network in a friendly informal environment, I am also on the list that receives emails about ICE events that are happening out on site and in the surrounding area.

Yes

I would definitely recommend Laing O'Rourke to a friend as since I have started they have been extremely helpful, the modules that they run as part of our programme will aid our development and professional skills, there is also plenty of help available if you are to ask for it.

To any potential applicants I would advise that they spend some time speaking to people in the industry specific to the area they are going in to gain an insight into if its for them or not and gain some experience working on a site, I would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of applying to do it as Laing O'Rourke are a brilliant company to start your career in and you will receive all the support you need.