National Apprenticeship Week 2022: Life of a BWB apprentice
07 February 2022
As we continue our celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, we look at a typical day in the life of a BWB apprentice. Harriet Atkinson is currently in her final year of study at Bolton College, undertaking a Level 4 Construction Site Engineer Technician Apprenticeship. Based at our Manchester office, working in the BBE Group, she has been an apprentice with us for over a year, taking part in a number of exciting projects.
What does your job involve on a daily basis?
My job involves producing structural drawings and models to be used for tender through to construction stage. I use 2D and 3D software such as AutoCAD and Revit to carry out my role, developing drawings such as foundation plans/ details, floor layouts, roof layouts, elevations, typical sections etc.
A big aspect of the role is coordination, this involves checking that our drawings are consistent with drawings/ information from other project stakeholders - such as Architects, steel fabricators, and contractors - to ensure accurate construction.
The projects I have worked on so far mostly include steel frame industrial sheds and a few residential housing developments.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I take pride in knowing that the drawings I produce will be used to aid the safe construction of real-life structures that will eventually be utilised by society.
The opportunity to use high quality software and be responsible for starting structural models from scratch has been great as it’s enabled me to follow through with the design process from the beginning.
Most importantly, it has been a pleasure to work in such a supportive and friendly environment and feel appreciated for all the hard work that I do.
How does your apprenticeship help you on a daily basis?
My apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to work towards gaining a recognised qualification - a HNC in Construction and the Built Environment - which has helped me learn the necessary construction knowledge to apply to my role and in due course will assist in my progression onto a future degree.
It has allowed me to earn a competitive salary and settle into working life with the support from my team and the business as a whole. Furthermore, it has enabled me to build my confidence and independence in day-to-day tasks and develop key skills and behaviours to take forward into the rest of my career.
For more information on apprenticeships at BWB, contact our recruitment team at recruitment@bwbconsulting.com.