Apprentice Engineer Review
at Arcadis
Degree Apprenticeship
Civil Engineering
Birmingham
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
4.3 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
In my role as an Apprentice Civil Engineer, I am currently working within Engineering Management on the HS2 project. This involves quality checking different documents and monitoring statistics related to document flow. My position plays a role in ensuring high quality work is provided to clients effectively and efficiently.
Additionally, I collaborate with the GEC (Global Excellence Centre) team in India to build upon my technical skills. This includes regular calls and training regarding detailed design drawings, ensuring competency before contributing to technical HS2 project work.
Additionally, I collaborate with the GEC (Global Excellence Centre) team in India to build upon my technical skills. This includes regular calls and training regarding detailed design drawings, ensuring competency before contributing to technical HS2 project work.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The program is enjoyable when learning new things to develop my career. Some work gets quite repetitive, but I acknowledge this work is vital to projects. My team are really supportive with work development and balancing university alongside work.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
During my apprenticeship so far, I have had the opportunity to learn and develop lots of new skills. One key skill I have improved on is communication, gained through meeting new people in professional environments, online calls, team meetings and presentations.
Additionally, I have gained software skills including MIDAS Civil, AutoCAD, ProjectWise, Excel, Python. This has helped me improve efficiency during project work, contributing to both my technical development and my ability to deliver high-quality work.
Additionally, I have gained software skills including MIDAS Civil, AutoCAD, ProjectWise, Excel, Python. This has helped me improve efficiency during project work, contributing to both my technical development and my ability to deliver high-quality work.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme for apprentices at Arcadis is not standardised over the whole business. The training that you do is up to the specific team that you work within, rather than a general training plan. This works well in some cases, when teams are involved in smaller projects, and responsibilities can be given to apprentices. However, there are lots of larger projects within the company, HS2 for example, where it is harder to gain experience as competency is needed before being given responsibility.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
There is lots of support available within my team in regard to project work, university and chartership. There is also regular apprentice catch up sessions to ensure progress is being maintained.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
There is support available from the university if needed. Certain tutors run extra support sessions during the week to provide additional help if needed.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
There are some modules that relate to work more than other modules within university. Depending on the team you are based in depends on how relatable topics can be.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Every month, the social committee organise an office breakfast and evening social event. This is a great opportunity to meet new people in the office and build work relationships in a more relaxed environment. There are also sports clubs including running, table tennis and cycling.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arcadis to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Arcadis is very people first and have a variety of different sectors within the business. There are lots of opportunities within the UK and Globally to explore further into your career.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arcadis?
Having work experience in a similar sector to the job will help in interviewing to provide relevant points to questions. This also shows that you are interested in the subject area and shows willingness to learn new skills.
