Apprentice Civil Engineer Review

My role on a day to day basis involves assisting senior engineers with setting out and providing levels for construction works. This involves looking at construction drawings in order to gather the information so that we can do this. It also consists or supervising and watching over certain jobs that take place to ensure that they are done correctly and to the right standard.

I have learnt many new skills in engineering such as how to use all the pieces of equipment such as the EDM, Laser Level, Dumpy Level and the GPS. I have also learnt how to read and interpret construction drawings to gather any necessary information I need to then apply this out on site.

I am enjoying my apprenticeship a lot more than expected as everyday is different and there is always a job that needs to be doing. With their being a large variety of things to do this also gives you a lot to learn which helps give you a wide range of knowledge and experience through the apprenticeship on site.

The program is structured very well as you have blocks at college and then site placements for certain amounts of time. This allows you to gain the necessary qualifications and experience in civil engineering. You are paired with a senior engineer to ensure that you are taught everything correctly. Whilst on site you are given objectives to do to ensure you are making the progress required.

You receive a lot of support as you are given a mentor on site who makes sure that you are making progress and are happy with what you are being asked to do, however everyone on site are very helpful and make you feel welcome. You are also given 2 well-being days a year to help improve your well being.

You receive quite good support from Leeds College of Building, better from some lecturers than others. With units you have to complete whilst on site you have routine skype calls with a lecturer to help ensure that you know what to you need to be getting on with. This allows you to gain advice on how to do something if you are struggling.

The qualifications gives you the background knowledge to already know certain things before being on site. This allows you to already know pieces of information prior to your site placements which really does help. This helps you pick up things quicker on site which makes you more useful on site.

Whilst at college the BAM Nuttall apprentices had made themselves a 5 aside football team which would play every Wednesday night at a 5 aside league in Leeds. There are also opportunities such as going into schools to speak to students about the apprenticeship team which is done through Young BAM and being given one volunteer day a year.

Yes

I would recommend BAM Nuttall to a friend as I think that it is a great company to work for given all the opportunities you have. Also the qualifications and experience you gain through college and mentoring on site are really good to help you get a great start to a career in civil engineering.

To create a good cv and practice interview techniques for both one to one interviews, group activities and presentations as this is what will help you most in the interview. It is also essential to do your research into the company to showing an interest in the company and are keen regarding the apprenticeship area and working for the company.