Structural Technician Review

my job within Arup is as a Structural Technician. My day to day roles consist of 3D Modelling, 2D Drafting, Reinforcement Detailing and co-ordination. it is my responsibility to co-ordinate with all other disciplines within constructions, for example Architects, Mechanical and Electrical engineers, contractors, clients, etc. internally I interact with many of the engineers in order to turn there calculated information into a plan view and/or 3D Model. working at Arup I get to work on a huge variety of projects, from small school theatres, huge manufacturing facilities and football stadiums to name a few.

I have learnt many new skills working at Arup, mainly teamwork, working in an office with the structural team has taught me a lot about engineering as a whole and the industry processes. I am looking to finish my Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Civil Engineering at the end of this year and move onto my HNC, Arup have funded my further education to give me the knowledge base required.

My apprenticeship is very enjoyable, I get to work with some of the leaders in the industry of construction day in day out, and working on huge projects that will one day be erected. my company is very welcoming and always here to help, I have made some great friends working at Arup so far.

I feel extremely valued by Arup, they trust the work I do and the knowledge I have, and have invested their time and money into my education, and developing not only my knowledge but me as a person. recognition is always found for good work, and feedback widely available on both individual pieces of work and my general working ability. Working for Arup brings opportunities for many external achievements. the work I have done so far has allowed me to gain a QUEST Scholarship from the Institute of Civil Engineers, giving financial support to my studies and looks great on my CV!

my programme has been well organised from the start, my introduction into my job outlined the role of the company in the industry and also my individual role within the company. I was told from an early stage the routes of progression within the company and what I would need to achieve, giving me realistic and structured goals, whilst still pushing me to achieve extra than required.

my training provider for this course is New College Nottingham, they have been very supporting in pushing me to gain a excellent standard of education. they have offered me extra units where work has been finished early in order to broaden my knowledge further than required, and prepare me for further education. They have a huge understanding of the Civil Engineering course and have access to a vast amount of material and industrial personal/knowledge.

I have had huge support from Arup both in developing my work and support for my education in things I might not understand. I was given a mentor and a tutor at the start of my apprenticeship in order to guide me through to a stage where I can develop using my own initiative whilst still under a watchful eye. The staff at Arup have always been very helpful and nothing is ever too much to ask, no matter how busy someone may be.

my salary package was very competitive to start, providing my with sufficient funds to cover travel, living and extra for leisure. the benefits package offered by Arup contains some very useful things, such as private medical cover, travel insurance, etc. My salary has been reviewed many times since starting at Arup, meaning that my wage moves with the economy and also the industry.

There are many opportunities outside of work, mainly within each individual office or region, but company wide also. many events are run throughout the year, from BBQ's to Cricket days out. the social aspect at Arup has been bigger than I expected with huge social initiatives such as part funding, etc. I recently travelled to Berlin to take part in the Annual Arup Football tournament, along side 7 from the Nottingham office, playing against 30 other Arup offices from around the world.

Yes

Arup is a great place to start a career in the construction industry, I have gained a huge amount of knowledge in my first two years here. the support offered has been outstanding and vast, my pay is competitive with the rest of the companies in the industry and there are also huge opportunities, both externally and internally to progress.

within the application process I would advice anyone to highlight what they are good at whilst still stating what they could improve at, Arup can take the positives and expand on them helping you develop. The interview process at Arup is very enjoyable, often an activity will take place revolving around engineering, on which your application of skills will be assessed, following and interview on which is structured allowing you to showcase your talent. Interest at an early stage is always key for applications, and would recommend looking out for open days.