Highways Maintenance Review
at Kier Group
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Construction
Birmingham
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My job varies week to week as my depot is trying to let me get a feel for everything, so I started with white lining, where we would go around and re-paint lines on the road with a small gang. Now I have moved onto traffic management where we follow teams around to different sites and set up the traffic management systems so they can work safely.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I very much enjoy my programme so far in my first 4 months I have had lots of new experiences and hope to get back to college so I can continue with my subjects and learn more in my area. I would like it if there was a bit more communication between managers and colleges.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
So far I have learnt a lot about the white lining, how it works and all the safety that goes behind it, as well as lots of various measurements that need to be known when painting these lines. With traffic management I have learnt what signs need to go where and what is essential when working on the roads, from lane closures to 2 way traffic light systems.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
It is quite well organised, however as mentioned before, I feel like there could be room for improvement such as communication between the company and the college as sometimes I find that I am left not knowing what is next to do for my course or when I will be returning to college.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
They have been very responsive so far, and have always listened to my feedback and check up on me, on a regular basis (every few months). They also have been helping me see what my options for the future are, in terms of a career within the company that is Kier.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
C P Assessments have been pretty good for keeping an eye out for me so far, I have only actually been up to college once in December, the rest of my classes have been all online which they are aware is not the best to learn but are doing what they can to help.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
So far my training has helped me understand the industry better as I have not worked in this industry before. On my first visit to college I learnt about Traffic Management and all the theory behind that, which has helped me with working in traffic management out on the field.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Currently due to the climate of things with covid, there are no activities running, but I believe once things re-open and return to normal more events are going to be held for apprentices and employees. I have been on a few apprenticeship meetings already and have helped out doing a presentation for national apprenticeship week last month.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Kier Group to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Kier has treated me very well so far and has allowed me to see a real ladder for progression in the company which gives me high hopes for my future with the company. I think anyone trying to get into the construction industry should really look into Kier and give it a shot.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Kier Group?
You get what you give with Kier Group, if you put in the work and the time you'll get recognised for your efforts by your managers/supervisors. Most importantly, be yourself, don't try and be someone you are not for this industry, I never saw myself being in this role, coming from retail, but it has really been a great time.
