Site Engineer Review

My day to day experience as a civil engineering apprentice working with BAM Nuttall involves working on site with colleagues such as other site engineers, section engineers, sub agents and foremen. Working together doing things such as interrogating points and drawings on auto cad and site setting out and surveying.

There are many skills to be learnt as well as developed while working on site. BAM Nuttall offer a multitude of training courses that range anywhere from an afternoon learning a skill on the computer or full 5 day setting out and surveying courses up country. An apprentice will work in a team of experienced members of staff who are always willing to help and share their knowledge.

I enjoy the apprenticeship programme a lot. This is because I feel that BAM Nuttall have a strong focus on employee welfare whilst also being good employers. For example, a large amount of holiday pay and lots of opportunities for networking with other people at BAM as well as trips in different countries.

The structure of the apprenticeship training is good as college comes in 9 week blocks meaning you can focus your attention on college then apply it in the rest of the year at work. I find the program is well organised in the sense that the application process and the joining on process was always well thought out, and accomodating.

My employer does very good in supporting me through my work. The line managers I have are very good at helping me and explaining things to me even if they are busy, PND sessions and meetings are planned in order to discuss how I am developing in the workplace and how I feel about workload.

The support I receive from my training provider is of great quality. I am assigned a KSB (Knowledge, Strengths, Behaviours) mentor who arranges meetings with me once every month or so in order to check up on how I am getting on with applying my college knowledge to working on site.

I have not yet completed the level 4 to my apprenticeship yet, meaning I am still a trainee. However I find that the work that is completed is very interesting, and useful. I will say on the other hand that I personally think that you will always learn more on site from a practical point of view.

As the placement I am on is a very large scale job in Devonport Dockyards I find that opportunities such as ICE events pop up frequently which is good to go to if you are interested about becoming qualified as chartered through a professional body. There are also events and parties such as the BAM Annual Party and team building drinks nights, both good for networking.

Yes

I would highly recommend the apprenticeship scheme to anyone that is interested about civil engineering and the construction industry. BAM is also a great company to work for which I have heard multiple people say as well. There are plenty of benefits, events and opportunities and hard work is rewarded.

A piece of advice I would give to people applying to BAM is to be yourself when interviewing. Try not to be to stiff, robotic and just rehearsing lines over-preparing. BAM and other interviewers are looking for people they can work with. It isnt always just about grades and how well great you were at school.