Civil Engineering Senior Technician Review
at BAM
Degree Apprenticeship
Construction
Leeds
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
3.9 /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
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
As a senior technician, I mainly help site engineers on-site, assist in office activities and shadow experienced engineers on-site. Examples of these activities may include: setting out, marking lines for excavation, laying batter rails and pegs, quality checks and assurance, as-builts, etc. It is safe to say my everyday role is to learn as much as I can.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy it very much. It exposes you to a plethora of disciplines across the construction industry. The best part is that you get to meet new people and develop important contacts. The experience I have been acquiring so far is second to none. The cherry on it all is that you also get paid for learning.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes, I have. Mainly on-site, I have developed my communication skills with operators on-site using correct terminologies. I can confidently give levels to machine operators and conduct quality checks on activities like slump tests and formworks. I currently handle some of the actions regarding ProjectWise on my site and seem to be doing it very well. I learn and improve every single day on-site.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
It is very well laid out. You get to see how you progress over the years in a simple and structured manner. Since other people have passed through the same programme, you can easily ask questions if needed or ask your assessors, and your questions will be answered in no time.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I have received every support I could need so far, and I know they are willing to accommodate me in situations where I struggle or need more support. It is a friendly environment where everyone is included and treated fairly. I also do Knowledge, Skills and behaviour (KSB) with my assessor tailored towards my qualification. The workspace is very supportive, from my co-workers, line manager, assessors and early careers representatives.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I have an assessor assigned to me, and she helps with everything that has to do with my experience and qualification, including site placement and college work. At least once a month, we have meetings to measure my progression towards my qualification and the steps needed to get there. My line manager and supervisor on-site also have meetings with me to make sure I am learning as much as I can and if it compliments my studies at college, they make sure I am comfortable and make sure they provide solutions to any problems I might have.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Since I have been on-site since November 2023, I have been able to link the topics and subjects I have taken in college to the site works. This makes it much easier to understand the activities on-site. There is a link to every activity on site, and knowing the basics of this process plays a great deal in how well you understand the activities on-site.
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
Some events are sometimes organised within the team. For example, on my project Transpennine Route Upgrade West, we recently went for a late-night dinner, and we are also planning to go for a weekend golf trip to Paris. There are networking events within the early careers team that are informative. The ones I have attended so far have also helped my Continuous Professional Development record.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It has given me a better chance in the construction industry, unlike a graduate student who may struggle to get employment in a decent job role due to a lack of experience. The apprenticeship has helped me build impressive contact lists and exposed me to a wide range of experiences on and off-site.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAM?
They should be sure the industry is the right place for them. And they are willing to do what it takes to progress. When it comes to the interview, they should make sure they are themselves and they do not need to be savvy on their construction disciplines as they are not expected to know that much.
