Civil Engineer Review
at Mott MacDonald
Degree Apprenticeship
Civil Engineering
Cambridge
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
3.8 /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
5/5
-
Skills Development
3.4/5
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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 role on a day to day basis during the apprenticeship would vary, but would include attending the office in Cambridge, working with a large team with wide varying skills. I trained as a CAD technician undertaking drawing work before developing my skills onto highways design. I work with people in my team, and also from other offices. Projects usually last from 3 - 6 months and are always unique in their own way, keeping the work fresh.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
The work section of the programme is the most influential and beneficial to my learning and development. Much of what I learnt at university wasn't used within my role, but I understand why it is on the curriculum. I enjoyed the program and felt that there was the right balance between work - university and life.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed my technical skills significantly. having not worked on CAD before, or known anything about civil engineering. Furthermore, the job has pushed my soft skills, like communication, presentation, confidence, language use etc.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The work section of the program is well structured, and I can remember a clear change in the type of work I was tasked in, beginning with purely drawing tasks, to design tasks with drawing, and onto design tasks. The university section of the programme was poorly organised, often without exam dates or term dates being given out. I had to change a holiday because it fell over an exam which wasnt communicated until the start of that module.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
The support from my employer was great when needed. Our team is a great resource of knowledge and have been especially helpful when looking at ICE work that's required for my apprenticeship
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The support from the training provider was good, with regular catchups and check-ins. The resources available during some of the modules were not good enough with poorly structured lectures and no real understanding of how the lecture relates to the subject.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The degree does help me to perform better since the subjects that did apply to my job role, the theory gives vital background information that helps me understand my line of work better.
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
my work is full of social activities to get involved in. There is a sports and social committee who arrange a wide range of sports to get involved, I played football weekly for fun with work friends
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Mott MacDonald to a friend?
Yes
Why?
its a large organisation but with a small feel, since you often work on projects with people in the team, or in the wider area. There are lots of opportunities to change what you are doing if you are not happy with the work you are doing.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Mott MacDonald?
Just be yourself, and if you do succeed at getting a job, make sure to be in the office as much as reasonably possible since this helps significantly with development and learning.
