By Liam Fletcher
As this week is National Apprenticeship Week, I’ve been reflecting on my journey so far. Choosing a career path is a massive decision, and while many people feel pressured to head straight for a traditional university degree, I knew I wanted something different. I wanted to learn by doing, which made an apprenticeship a no-brainer for me.
I chose an apprenticeship in Construction and the Built Environment, and looking back, it’s one of the best moves I’ve made.
More Than Just a Classroom
One of the biggest advantages of an apprenticeship is the sheer variety of what you see and get involved with. Working in infrastructure, I haven’t been stuck in one niche. I’ve had the chance to see how highways and rail projects come together, giving me a much broader perspective on the industry than I would have gained from a textbook and classroom alone.
At a company with multiple divisions, you aren’t restricted to one path. You get to see how different teams operate and how they collaborate to get a job done. It’s a vast choice of learning that keeps every day interesting.
My apprenticeship also given me to opportunity to go on secondment to Galliford Try, to see how our designs are used in the real-world and get a better understanding of what on-site engineers need to successfully complete a project.
Building Real-World Skills
Apprenticeships don’t just benefit you with the technical side either. Of course, the hands-on experience is vital, but the “soft skills” you pick up are just as crucial for progressing:
- Communication: I’m constantly talking to my tutors, my college classmates, and my colleagues on-site. Whether it’s asking for guidance or supporting someone else, you learn how to communicate professionally very quickly.
- Leadership: A big moment for me was my End Point Assessment (EPA). When it came to CAD (Computer-Aided Design), I had to take the lead on the design. It’s those moments where you’re responsible for the outcome that really build your confidence.
The “Earn While You Learn” Advantage
People often ask me how this compares to a standard degree. Degrees are great if you’re 100% committed to that style of learning, but for me, this was a no-brainer.
In an apprenticeship, you get the best of both worlds. You get paid to work, you get paid to go to college, and you’re gaining years of experience while others are still in a lecture hall. Plus, you aren’t just learning from one lecturer; you have an entire company of experts to talk to, all of whom have very different experiences and knowledge to share. If I have a question, I can ask someone who has been doing the job for twenty years. That kind of access to knowledge is invaluable.
Looking Ahead
Being on-site can be demanding, and you have to be disciplined to balance the work with the college side. But seeing a project come to life makes it all worth it. If you’re looking for a way to jumpstart your career and get a head start in the industry, I can’t recommend the apprenticeship route enough.