Electrical Apprentice Review

I am a 2nd year Electrical Apprentice. My day-to-day activitives include workiNG with CAD software such as Revit, Dialux and Amtech. I also work alongside engineers and get involved in the design process. As I am still very early in my apprenticeship I work on a wide array of projects to build a broad overview of each sub-section of electrical engineering.

Over the past year I have learned many new skills. These inclue the use of electrical CAD (computer aided design) software and I am now starting to understand the basic fundamentals of electrical engineering. Everyone at Arup has been more than welcoming and are willing to share their time and wisom to enhance my skills.

I am very happy working with Arup. Like any job there are some down-days but the vast majority of days I thoroughly enjoy myself. As well as learning, the atmosphere in the office is fantastic and everyone is extremely friendly. I never dread coming to work on a Monday after the weekend.

Since the first day I joined I have been fully aware as to how I will progress each year through my apprenticeship. My line manager is very supportive and we have regular talks to check in on how im coping. If you begin to struggle juggling both work and studies Arup will allow some time to catch up.

Me and my line manager have regular chats to ensure I am coping okay with my apprenticeship. If I feel myself starting to struggle I have no issue telling my manager who is extremely supportive and allows me some time to catch up on my course work. Arup dont treat me like a slave worker, they seem to understand that an apprenticeship can be stressful at times.

I am studying both a course at college and an NVQ qualification. I have an NVQ assessor that comes in once a month for a whole morning to go over the work I have completed and he is extremely helpful and supportive. Staff at college are not so understanding that as an apprentice we have to work and complete assignments for them.

The knowledge I have learned/learn in college is not very transferable to my line of work. College has taught me some basics of engineering but I learn the vast majority of neccessary information through actually working. This could be due to the fact that this apprenticeship is design engineering but there is no specific course for that in college (I am studying a basic Electrical Engineering course).

Arup is a very sociable place to work. There is always social events that are inclusive for all types of people regardless of age. We have a lots of sports teams and a social committe that organises events. At Arup there does not feel like hierachy system, you see all the time the directors speaking and interacting with us apprentices.

Yes

Not only have they been extremely supportive to myself with my sudies and other aspects of my job they also understand the importance of forming strong relationships with your peers which creats a very friendly environment to work in. I have enjoyed my whole apprenticehsip to this date so far.

Be yourself in the interview ad apply yourself well. Arup like to see enthusiastic and people eager to learn in the interview process. This process will normally incldue a task that requries team working. Have a basic knowledge of some facts about Arup and do a little bit of research into Sir Ove Arups key speech.