Assistant Civil Engineer Review
at BAM
Degree Apprenticeship
Civil Engineering
Leeds
Review Submitted: April 2025
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!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3.6/5
-
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
Site based civil engineer, carrying out setting out and surveying, writing and reviewing safety and environmental documentation, managing subcontractors, monitoring safety and environment, reviewing construction drawings and raising technical queries with the designers along with collaborative planning board updates.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
Site based - Various projects i have worked on have been enjoyable but some have been tough to motivate myself when there are less purely engineering tasks to be done.
College/Uni - Been a brilliant group of other apprentices to study/work alongside and staying in Leeds meant opportunity for improved social life.
College is getting more tough as the programme progresses with the work/Uni/life balance not being achieved as weekends are taken up with Uni assignments during the semesters.
College/Uni - Been a brilliant group of other apprentices to study/work alongside and staying in Leeds meant opportunity for improved social life.
College is getting more tough as the programme progresses with the work/Uni/life balance not being achieved as weekends are taken up with Uni assignments during the semesters.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Constantly improving my technical ability when communicating about design issues. Confidence when challenging unsafe acts and environmental near misses. Time management - ensuring everything gets done that is required in a timely manor. Speaking in front of groups such as delivering social value school assemblies relating to Careers in STEM
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
the programme is structured and we get informed about what units are coming up - however, communication of timetables for Uni along with some assignment information could be communicated better. the isn't any structure to the site based aspect - from my experience its just do as your told by the more senior engineer or agent and work up from small easy tasks to more difficult ones when trust is there.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Generally if there is something i need from BAM i can get it, within reason. Could be more time for University work as formal study days as its frowned upon to just agree with line manager as they may not understand the amount of work involved in Uni assignments, revision, work and ICE.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
LCB is a great new college facility, especially the South Bank campus. There are people available at the college to help with any issues, Vicky Patterson was brilliant when working towards level 4 EPA and EngTech with the ICE. For the degree Nikki Carthy will help with anything required too. The lecturers are generally good and seem knowledgeable but when assignments are being completed outside of a college block they take too long to respond and resource organisation isn't always great.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Building up a back ground knowledge of a wide range of subjects helps, but they are generally not in enough detail on the most relevant subjects for site. Also, some of the programmes used eg. Autodesk civil 3D should be used in college as thats more relevant than Revit for Civils most of the time. Report writing has helped when working towards professional reviews.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Yes, i have been involved in some team building activities including go karting. There is also a summer barbeque organised by the apprentices in the northern region. Could be more at a site level - based on small sites so likely less available than larger sites.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Its a good way into the world of work and a generally well organised apprenticeship. There is always things that can be improved but BAM are getting better at taking feedback on board and putting into action what they talk about whether its the early careers team or the northern region engineer forums/working groups.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAM?
Its a good idea to get some work experience so you are more up to speed with the world of work and how construction sites operate which will help with there application and getting through the assessment center days/interview
