Civil Engineer Review

During my 7 months at Costain I have been involved in a variety of different tasks that have broadened my knowledge as a trainee civil engineer and given me an a further understanding of the profession and the importance of the job. I started my apprenticeship on the February the 2 and have developed massively and learnt a vast amount since then. I started off with shadowing engineers around site getting involved in reading drawings and marking out for the vertical Macalloy bar installs in the pit walls. Further on I started to take on a management side to a sub- contractor Robore with making sure they were reaching the required depth for each hole and wherever they hit steel there were additional holes marked and drilled. I produced and completed a spread sheet detailing every hole drilled in the pit walls. I then moved onto working along side SSL with ensuring the bars were installed and resined in. Prior to them being installed I dealt with making sure the holes had been signed off on the check sheet and had been inspected by an inspector. I was involved in witnessing pull off tests once the bars had been installed to justify whether they were fit for their purpose. I then took on the responsibility of SSL’s quality file for the installation of the Macalloy bars, resin top up, as built drawings and surveys for the actually positions of the macalloy bars. During my 7 months I have become competent with the total station, I have used it to produce levels for the capping beam preparation, cut lines for the macalloy bars and also producing surveys of the actually position of the macalloy bars which I added into SSL’s quality file. In and amongst these works I was involved in marking out for the additional pit base strengthening. I then moved from the bearings team to PT (Post tensioning) working on the long tendon anchorage installs. I have taken on the responsibility of reinforcement scanning using a variety of different equipment; in addition I have marked out the horizontal core positions through the cantilevers and chamfers. I have also marked out all the cores and the voids that have been hydrodemolitioned near the west abutment. I have just been put in charge of the removal of the redundant porthole making sure I produce the required paper work in order for the works to go ahead.

i have learnt a vast amount of construction related qulification such as SSSTS, First aid, Manual handling, working at hight, confined space training, rescue etc

i enjoy all aspects of the apprenticship program, i found it really east to settle in and build relationships with other employees. It has exceeded my expectations for the quilty of work and oppotunities available to myself.

I have been given alot of responsibility in my time with costain and have developed further to a stage where i have my own subcontractor. I believe i am a valueable part to my team and also there is no devide between quilified engineers and apprentices and my opinions are always concidered.

it is structured very well.

The support provided from our training provider is very good as extra support is given in regards to any subject we may be struggling with.

Due to the fact we are only on site 3 days out of 5 not alot of support is provided at work due to the time we have on site. it is in my own intrest to manage my time at college to ensure all the work that is required is completed.

It is managable especially that my travel is included in my package.

There are many opportunites available. I was part of a meeting which intailed me repairing a schools fence next door to our site which was destroyed in the storms. Many social event are oganised on a regular basis whcih are always fun.

Yes

It is a perfect company to work for as the support is vast as well as it has one of the best training programs out of all construction companies.

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