Civil Engineering Apprentice Review

by Costain

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

5/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

Pre-construction. Reviewing RAMS. Producing RAMS, ITP's and Construction Phase Plans. Ensuring works are carried out in a safe manor and meet the required H&S legislation.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Project Management, time management, team work, initiative, industry knowledge, communication skills. Serval courses - Working at height, near watercourses, steps and ladders, RAMS, Project management, setting out (surveying).

9/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

The job and company are fantastic. Croydon college (our education provider) is the worst college I've had the displeasure of attending. We started our course late, material hasn't' been taught properly, we weren't taught some required units.

1/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

As stated above, the company is fantastic and programme and progression route within the business is great. The college on the other hand is very badly structed, the lecturer didn't know when our exams would be throughout the year etc.

1/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

A lot. If we need extra time for coursework we can ask and receive. We have flexible working contracts which allows us to prioritize work or education depending on what's required.

10/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Our training provider (Croydon college) offers very little in support. They've been very difficult throughout the entire course and haven't really had a clue as to what's happening. A lot of information has taken ages to reach me or is wrong.

1/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

My training provider (Croydon college) has chosen units that barely relate to my role. The only unit than linked to my course was Health and safety and I learnt more about legislation and requirements from doing the job, not from what the college offered.

1/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Lots, there are always regular emails or posters at work for different sports events, social gatherings and a lot of the people I work with are often available for drinks or other social activities

9/10

9a. Would you recommend Costain to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Fantastic company, great sense of purpose, clear progression routes within the company and they listen to what you have to say.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Costain?

Apply using multiple platforms (Costain's system, indeed, Linkedin etc.) and try to reach out to people within the company via LinkedIn. Show what interests you about the business and be yourself.