George

Why did you come to UTCN?

I joined UTCN in Year 10 after visiting on an open day. I was very impressed by the facilities they had to offer and from the offset it was clear to me that the school had a strong focus on the employability of its students. On the open day I saw some of the opportunities and career paths in which previous students had undertaken further confirming to myself that this was the right school to attend for both my educational development. I chose to stay in UTCN for sixth form to study engineering having connected well with the teachers who knew me and how to help me in my professional development.

What did you like about UTCN?

The best part for me were the great opportunities which were offered to me during my time at UTCN both career-wise and academically. The school boasts an outstanding network of potential employers, and this provided me with the chance to work on my own networking skills and gain confidence in the career that I was ultimately working towards. 

How and why did you apply for your apprenticeship?

I first applied for work placement through the work placement coordinator who offered me a last chance place on the Herring Bridge project with Farrans and Bam Nuttall. I subsequently accepted this, found out that I really enjoyed the role, people, and the working environment. I gained good contacts within Farrans, and I kept in touch with them after my work placement finished. When applications opened, I applied and through the connections I had previously made, I was offered a degree apprenticeship in civil engineering!

What do you do in your apprenticeship?

My day-to-day would involve arriving on site and attending the daily briefing. Putting on my PPE and setting up the equipment needed for the operatives on site to use and for me to complete my tasks. These tasks typically include referring to engineering drawings for setting out and surveying. For the university side, I have one day a week for lectures online, and I also attend a block week at the university at the start of each semester.

What advice would you give current UTCN students?

Make sure to take the opportunities you are offered and be the best version of yourself as the next employer you interact with could be your future employer. Most importantly don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone!