Apprentice civil engineer Review

As a civil engineer apprentice, you will never have two days that are the same. The job is a mix of site and office work which means it is fast-paced, interesting, and very enjoyable. The office work consists of managing permits, writing task briefs, working on cad, quality assurance, and planning site works. These tasks help me to gain a great understanding of procedures and methodologies. Personally, I find the site work more interesting. When on-site you experience a vast range of engineering disciplines. Some of my daily work consists of surveying, setting out, levelling, and the traversal of points. Furthermore, this work enables me to practice using engineering instruments such as a total station, dummy level, laser level, and GNSS.

When I started the apprenticeship, I had no site experience. However, this has not been an issue. Everyone I have worked with has apricated that I am new to the industry, and my colleagues have helped me learn new skills. When I started the apprenticeship, I had no site experience. However, this has not been an issue. Everyone I have worked with has apricated that I am new to the industry, and my colleagues have helped me learn new skills. Like I said in question one, I have learned how to create formal task briefs, complete permits, use engineering equipment, complete topographic surveys, set out, stake out and traverse.

I really enjoy the apprenticeship. It is well-structured and delivered. Also, this apprenticeship has helped me gain lots of site experience and industry knowledge. Moreover, you are learning all this knowledge and experience whilst being paid a competitive salary. I could not have gained any of this by going to university.

The structure of the apprenticeship works incredibly well. For the apprenticeship, you complete all your learning in a nine-week college block which means you can spend the rest of the year on-site. Due to this, it means that you can entirely focus on all your college work and spend time with lots of the other apprentices. Likewise, this also means you can spend an entire year on a project. Therefore, this means you can learn a lot and become an integrated part of the team.

I have had lots of help since starting the apprenticeship. All the teachers at college were excellent and clearly explained all the work and they help you get the highest grade possible. When I joined Transpennine route upgrade, I was placed on a great site with an outstanding team. The whole team, especially the engineers, have really helped me learn and gather a wide range of skills. Likewise, they apricate that I am very new to the industry, so they are happy to tell me how to do things more than once. Also, the workers on site have been very helpful by telling me all the site procedures and showing me how to do a variety of tasks.

BAM tries to help progress their employee’s careers as much as possible. As part of the apprenticeship, the company and Leeds college of building enables us to achieve a bachelor’s degree and chartership. Therefore, this means you can gain industry experience whilst getting excellent qualifications. Also, my project put me through Personal track safety and AC/DC courses. The personal track safety allows me to work on the track, and the AC/DC enables me to work on electrified lines. Without the PTS, I would not be able to work on my current site, and it would limit what sites I could work on.

The college courses are tailored to the apprenticeship this means you gain knowledge of the industry before you start on your project. For example, one of the courses I studied was surveying. The courses are purposely designed to prepare you for working on site. As part of the apprenticeship, you work towards K.S.Bs, this means that you need to achieve/reach criteria. Also, by completing the K.S.Bs, it ensures that you have enough industry experience to graduate from the apprenticeship. However, you will learn much more on your project than in college.

Whilst in Leeds (for the nine-week block) there were lots of extracurricular activities. It was a great experience as we spent lots of time with all the other apprentices. Also, while we (1st years) were there, the third years were there. This meant we asked them questions about their experiences and projects. However, at work/site there are not any extracurricular activities.

Yes

I really enjoy the apprenticeship. It is well-structured and delivered. Also, this apprenticeship has helped me gain lots of site experience and industry knowledge. Moreover, you are learning all this knowledge and experience whilst being paid a competitive salary. I could not have gained any of this by going to university.

PREPARATION IS KEY! When applying for the job, you must have a basic knowledge of both the role and the company. For example, you should show that your values reflect the BAM's. Furthermore, expressing your passion for the industry and job will show how much you want the apprenticeship. If you get an interview, try and practice potential interviews questions. Also, try and relax- it is a nervous experience to apply for a job.