Building Services Engineer Apprentice Review

Perform engineering tasks to help design a building on a major rail project. I am electrical so I do lighting design, fire alarm layouts, and have done some maximum demand and equipment scheduling. The job is usually completing markups, checks and tasks on other designs.

My communication and confidence in interacting with those above me has improved, and I am getting good at being organised with all my tasks. Technically, I have developed skills on multiple softwares such as Dialux, Bluebeam, Excel, Navisworks and Amtech. I have been made to feel confident about asking for help and talking to anyone around me.

I really enjoy it. People at the company are very nice and very welcoming. Everyone encourages you to ask for help, and there is not an extreme pressure to produce work loads that are too high. I am made to feel valued and the work is usually fairly fulfilling. The only real downside is not having the free time that those at uni have, and having to still live at home.

My programme is well structured and organised from Arup, but the organisation at LSBU is poor. In Arup, there is sometimes some confusion at the apprenticeship scheme, but that is because the common workers do not need to be educated on it - the people in charge and looking after me know the processes well. LSBU on the other hand is not a great training provider.

Lots of support, could not really ask for more. The people employed are nice, and I am reached out to by associates and directors regularly. I feel valued and there are schemes in place that provide me with a good support network. I am very happy with this element of my job.

The course structure and content is quite good - it covers relevant content in a sensible order. However, organisation/admin is quite poor, and the people delivering the content are not great. There are often mistakes in the powerpoint, and lecturers are not always good at explaining things. If you want to do well at LSBU you really need to take it upon yourself to go the extra mile.

I think I have learned more through working than through the university. Uni is good for learning the theory behind some of the calculations I am doing, and learning about the theory behind things, but I do not think it would hugely affect my current work if I were not studying.

Yes, there are lots of social events, clubs and teams that you can get involved in. I am part of the touch rugby team just as a bit of fun, and many of my friends here go climbing. There are usually multiple networking events or shows per week. Lots of opportunity for socialising.

Yes

Because as I said earlier, I am well supported at a well paid company, surrounded by good people. I enjoy my job and I like most things about the job. The only thing I do not like is not being able to live with my friends at uni and make the most of that lifestyle. However, career wise and financially, doing an apprenticeship at Arup was absolutely a good decision to make.

To work here they look for 2 things - excellence in knowledge and doing your job, and being a good person. If you are a nice person with good morals and you also have a passion for the built environment and incorporating their values within that, you will probably do well.