Apprentive Civil Engineer Review

My role is diverse and very hands on with the site teams and physical works. I keep close contact with site operatives, supervisors and senior site staff preparing there working day along with the required paper work. Ensuring materials, when required, are ordered and delivered in time, taking on the role of site champion for the environmental aspect of our area of work, leasing with senior agents and engineers in order to widen my experience in the felid. assisting with Hand over and MIDP and surveying the site to keep an up to date log of activities.

- the factors that go into the handover of a package - preparation and quality of paper work such as TBS's and RAMS - what to look out for when carrying out a site walk around for health and safety and Environmental aspects. - learning the processes and procedure of a section 61 - CPD log and format for contributing reports

I enjoy the working environment and the people that I work with, I feel my development and understanding is continuing to improve but I still have a long way to go, I am aware of some of my learning gaps. I feel my learning and understanding isn't accelerating as much as when I first started but this expected. eventually I would like to progress onto something new within my working life. My university program covers the area as stated in the original briefing we were give by the university. I feel my university class which is made up of only apprentices often gets put on the back burner due to the recent change in degree apprenticeship completion expectation for the years below ours, this is having a knock on effect on our learning. I feel this year only one of my units was beneficial to my progression, development and learning. I do not enjoy my university programme as much.

the programme I am on is well structured but I believe certain units could be missed out or reduced allowing for more time for other units or more focused learning. due to my class being made up of only apprentices our learning is on a different development track to full time students but I feel some of the lecture and assignments we are provided are what we already and are not beneficial to a group of apprentices. Organisation for my group of apprentices with the university has definitely slipped after first year. I believe this issue correlates with the change in programme and duration of apprenticeship, to reduce the duration of time at the university by a year, for the cohort below mine. this is directly impacting my learning and is not fair.

I believe more regular updates on opportunities for apprentices should be provided to the apprentices within the company as I certainly do not have any understanding of how to progress to a different project or package. for me personally this guidance is critical as this is my first job. I think a training session should be provided to the apprentices within Costain so they are able to get an understanding of this process and to also meet other apprentices working in different areas and gaining this knowledge and understanding from them.

Apart from providing the essentials I have had a few occasions where the training provider has arrange 1 or 2 events which were some what useful. the University needs to assist the apprentice program better given the amount of money that is being put into this. the engineering apprentice lead does her best to provide assistance and meet with all apprentice students but given there is only one of her there needs to be more assistance given to the department.

most of what I know I have learnt onsite and through working through the problems straight away. I feel the training I am given through my training provider often comes after I have had to educate myself on it on site or learnt from someone else. this can still be use full to reaffirm my knowledge but can also seem pointless at times as I have already learnt this, I am aware that in the next few years topics/units will be covered that I haven't had the opportunities to learn before this will be more beneficial.

We often hold social events as a team and even in the current situation we are carrying out Pub quizzes online via teams as a group, I have even been able to arrange team socials which have been a lot of fun. I would like the company to hold a social event for apprentices within Costain to meet up and get to know each other as the last time this happened this was very beneficial.

Yes

Costain have supported me very well through almost two years. I am given tasks and challenges, with the correct support, that normal apprentices wouldn't always be allowed to do. these tasks help to build my CPD log and are forming me into a much better engineer. alongside my apprenticeship they are more than happy to fund my training where asked for and providing me plenty of time for mental wellbeing within the work place. this allows me to be the best form of myself when i am at work, carrying out my job to my full potential.

ensure that you reflect your best qualities when applying. Make sure to attend any events that are being held in order to get your name out there and in peoples heads, this is a must for anyone that struggles to present themselves clearly on paper. make sure you get linked in.