What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are jobs, which provide you with a chance to earn a wage, acquire recognised qualifications and gain hands-on experience, and learn the skills necessary to succeed in your chosen career.
Here are some benefits of an Apprenticeship:
- You are given real responsibilities
- You will work to gain practical skills
- You will spend time with a learning provider (college or university) to acquire technical skills and theoretical knowledge
- You will have support from a mentor
- You will gain a salary and company benefits
Apprenticeship Pathways and Future Careers
| Main Apprenticeship Schemes | Future Jobs / Career Pathway |
Level 3 Digital Engineer
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Digital Engineers optimise the performance of the built environment using models, technical software and visualisations. You will have the ability to communicate complex engineering principals to all stakeholders digitally. Integrating construction data and information throughout the whole lifecycle of an asset adhering to industry standards and regulation of digital information commonly known as BIM. You will also provide digital solutions with efficiency gains on traditional methods of construction. |
Level 3 Health, Safety and Environment
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Health and Safety Advisors promote a positive safety culture, ensuring construction projects comply with legislation and industry standards. You will assist in the preparation of health and safety documents such as risk assessments and method statements. A large proportion of your time will be spent out on site identifying potential risks and promoting best practice to help change the way people think and work to prevent accidents. Environmental Advisors provide specialist support to make sure that projects achieve their environmental objectives. You will need to be aware of environmental legislation and work as part of the team to ensure compliance. The role is really varied and includes writing reports, collecting and analysing data, being out on-site monitoring dust and noise levels, writing environmental bulletins and carrying out briefings for teams before they start work on site. |
Level 4 or 6 Quantity Surveyor
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Quantity Surveyors control the costs and finances of a project. Usually, you will be based in the site office and will go on site to do measurements to assess the quantities of materials required. You will negotiate rates and set up contracts with subcontractors such as bricklaying, groundwork and mechanical engineering companies. Good maths skills and a knowledge of contract law is useful. Estimators work out how much it will cost to build the project and prepare this information as a quote for the client. Usually, you would work in the office, but you may need to go on site or visit a member of the supply chain team to look at materials and prepare a report on how much the project is likely to cost. Good maths and IT skills are needed for this role. |
Level 4 or 6 Civil Engineering
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Civil Engineers design and build infrastructure projects. You will be developing designs using analysis tools and creating 3D/4D models of the project. You will be mainly site-based and will plan and manage works so they are built to the design. A good knowledge of maths and physics is important as it supports your understanding of the principles behind the works that are being carried out. Site Managers are sometimes called Construction Managers or Site Agents and are responsible for the day-to-day running of a construction project. You will prepare sites prior to the start of construction work, ensuring that specifications, budgets and timescales are met whilst overseeing the construction process. You will ensure that all works are supervised and coordinated to meet our safety, quality and environmental objectives. Planners are construction professionals who produce the time plan or programme on a project. You will decide on the best methods for tackling a job and the most efficient order for doing the work, assisting the commercial team in evaluating quotes/methods relating to the programme. You will work closely with other teams to keep the project on track and manage conflicting priorities. It is most likely that you will work in an office and visit site occasionally. |
Level 4 Corporate Social Responsibility
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Social Value: Our social value team provides a vital link between projects and local communities. They look for opportunities to add value by engaging externally with stakeholders including residents, community groups, local authorities and internally with the project team, suppliers and clients. This role offers opportunities to be creative, have an impact and develop wide-ranging knowledge of the sector and the communities that we work within. |
What our apprentices have to say
Meet Vanessa
My name is Vanessa, and I am a Communications Assistant working on the HS2 Old Oak Common Station Project. I recently completed my Level Four qualification in PR and Communications. Throughout my time at HS2 Old Oak Common Station I have gained an immense amount of knowledge not just in my qualification, but also in life. My confidence has grown, and I know how to handle myself in situations I probably would not have experienced outside of the corporate world. I would highly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who wants to escape the ordinary education system and throw themselves into the fun but deep end of an industry!
Meet Cameron
I successfully completed my Engineering Technician Apprenticeship in 2022 and I am now in my third year of studying for a Level 6 Degree. I have always had an interest in construction and have always taken a hands-on approach. I couldn’t see myself going to university full time, so an Apprenticeship was the right route for me. There hasn’t been a day since the very beginning where I haven’t learned something. I think that having the opportunity at a young age to constantly learn and then apply this learning really builds character and a solid foundation for your career. My highlight so-far was winning New Civil Engineer’s Apprentice of the Year 2021, it’s an achievement I’m really proud of.
Read more about what we do
Enabling the energy transition
Unlocking the future of mobility
