I will have been working at CPW as an apprentice mechanical engineer for two years in April. The apprenticeship route was always a clear choice for me as I wanted to jump straight into the industry and gain hands-on experience.
Before my apprenticeship I completed a Level 3 BTEC course in engineering, which gave me an understanding of engineering and helped guide me towards the area I was most interested in. This was incredibly useful and stood me in good stead once beginning my apprenticeship as I was able to build on the skills and knowledge from previous academic studies.
Since joining CPW I’ve learnt many great new skills including how to use and implement software packages such as AutoCAD, Revit and IESVE. I’ve worked on a variety of really interesting design projects across a number of sectors including healthcare, student accommodation, education, office space and warehousing.
I’ve also learnt so much about the construction industry and more broadly about the working world by doing an apprenticeship. I’ve had valuable site experience and been given responsibility on a number of projects, which has taught me how to manage and plan time correctly, as well as an insight into more niche topics such as how to practically integrate low and zero carbon technologies for a more sustainable future.
I would highly recommend the apprenticeship route for anyone looking to gain practical experience without the financial and time commitment of university. CPW is brilliant at providing in house training, as well as the required professional academic qualifications, and the opportunity to work on live projects. The industry is also constantly changing and by working directly in the sector rather than learning about it at university I have a much better practical understanding.
With that in mind, once I’ve finished my apprenticeship I want to continue building upon my knowledge – in particular learning more about software packages such as IESVE – and eventually I’d like to become a chartered engineer. Furthermore, I’d love to work more with renewable technologies and look to increasingly implement them into the built environment to create a better future.