Apprentice Civil Engineer Review

Day to day, I do site walkovers, prepare permits, take surveys and asbuilts, measuring and levelling and checking, and overall ensure a smooth operation on site. When preparing permits (eg. Permit to Excavate) I must mark out the area to be excavated and check for underground services through analysing drawings and then marking these services.

Yes, pretty much everything I learn here are new skills that you couldn’t really learn in the classroom alone. I’ve learnt to accurately utilise the GPS and Total Station. Ensure quality is taken to the highest standard when setting out. The most challenging skill I’m in the process of learning is site terminology.

I enjoy this program since it’s something brand new I’ve never tried before. My colleagues are always happy to help and I feel that they wish to see me strive in the industry which keeps me motivated throughout my days at work. When you have background of 0 experience in the industry, you need those few people at work to have patience with you to get you to a good level of understanding your role.

I like the structure of the program since we do theoretical work in study blocks at Leeds College of Building. This means we, as apprentices, can focus on working and learning new skills at our site placements rather than have that worry about assignments in the back of our heads.

I received good support. If I have any questions or concerns, I know there’s always someone I can ask.

The lecturers at Leeds College of Building are great. Any concerns and they’re happy to help. You can tell they enjoy their job of teaching us which makes the experience even better.

It gives you a primary understanding of your role until you get to site placement, all the knowledge you’ve learnt at college can finally be applied. I feel that I’ve fully understood what I learnt at college once I got to site placement.

Yes there is

Yes

Because BAM look after you. The reality is you can’t keep everyone happy, but from my experience, I know there’s always someone there that I can rely on if I have any concerns whether that’d be the Apprenticeship Team, my line manager or colleagues.

Be yourself. And prepare well. And don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. There’s loads of opportunities out there.