Apprentice Civil Engineer Review

As an apprentice engineer, I take part in a lot of training on equipment, which I go forward to use on site. I am majoratively site based and have worked on 3 jobs in the Highways sector. I take part in surveying, setting out, and interpreting design drawings.

I have! I've taken part in a Detecting Underground Services course, where I learned how to use a CAT Scan. This is very useful as I can now detect services in order to write permits for excavations to start on site. I have also been on a Setting Out course, where I learned how to use a GPS and Total Station. This was particularly interesting as we got to do the angle calculations, and you can physically see how the mathematics applies on site.

I find the work really enjoyable. Every day is different and and you're learning all the time, no matter how qualified you are. I think a team makes a huge difference to how much you enjoy your work, and at Balfour Beatty there are lots of opportunities outside of the workplace to get to know colleagues. They also have a fantastic employee helpline that provides support whenever I feel anxious or uncertain of something. Some days are harder than others; time management is a huge challenge with an apprenticeship as sometimes I am forced to prioritise either work or studies, but overall it is a fantastic experience and you can learn a lot about yourself as well as your job.

Personally, there has been a communication breakdown between my work and my place of study, and I am unsure of my long term study plan. But separately, both work and studies are structured and organised well, and I have a clear idea of my short term goals in each field.

My employer is always communicating their support with me. Any issues I have faced have been dealt with professionally and I have been treated fairly. Employee services have been really supportive and I am able to build confidence to communicate my needs in the workplace.

My training provider supports me well, giving me time and lenience when needed. They are mostly competent, and I have had no trouble achieving good grades. Their student support team have been outstandingly helpful, and are available most times I have needed them. I have an ongoing communication with my training provider to ensure they know how to best support me.

I definitely see a difference now that I am more qualified compared to when I first started. However, a lot of what I learn isn't necessarily relevant to my job role, as it is mainly buildings and commercial construction that we learn about. But overall I think that it is extremely beneficial to be a qualified engineer.

There are many social activities, there are occasional nights out with my team. They also host an annual sports day, which is great fun. There are also great networking events available. However, as much as is available, it is hard to find the time and availability to attend them. For example, if I have a networking event during a working day, I am less likely to be able to attend due to site responsibilities.

Yes

I think everybody has an opportunity to thrive within the company, and if you feel that a certain role isn't suiting you, there are opportunities to place in different roles. It is much like any other place of work, there are ups and downs, but Balfour Beatty provides support for when you are experiencing a down.

Ensure you have well-developed communication skills, a huge part of any job role here relies on this. Work on your confidence; there are many different types of people you will come across within the company, it can be daunting to adapt and interact to different environments when you first start. Don't hold yourself back, if this is something you want to do, you are capable of doing it. Finally, be yourself!