Apprentice - Civil Engineer Review
at BAM
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Civil Engineering
Guildford, Surrey
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
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
I am an apprentice - civil engineer for BAM in my first year of my level 4 apprenticeship. I currently am able to live at home as my site is only 40 minutes in the morning and then typically over an hour on the commute home. I am on site every day of the week and work from 7am until 4:30pm. Within my role, I am assisting site engineers which is giving me a lot of experience and also massively boosting my knowledge of the civil engineering world.
I am given the chance to do things myself as well and already I am being given responsibilities to look after which I enjoy.
For the 2 year level 4 apprenticeship we do a 9 week block release at Leeds College of Building so we started there in September and did 9 weeks of learning and assignments there and then we go back this November for another 9 weeks. BAM pay for everything from the hotel for the work week, your travel to and from Leeds, all your food is included so everything is taken care of really. Leeds College of Building is a great environment to learn in as well.
I am given the chance to do things myself as well and already I am being given responsibilities to look after which I enjoy.
For the 2 year level 4 apprenticeship we do a 9 week block release at Leeds College of Building so we started there in September and did 9 weeks of learning and assignments there and then we go back this November for another 9 weeks. BAM pay for everything from the hotel for the work week, your travel to and from Leeds, all your food is included so everything is taken care of really. Leeds College of Building is a great environment to learn in as well.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my programme from the college side through to the site work. Everyone throughout my whole experience has been friendly and helpful. There are plenty of people to learn from which is what you want from an apprenticeship. It is hard work on site but BAM do look after you and there are lots of benefits offered and extra support if needed.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Prior to starting my knowledge of civil engineering was very limited and in only 6 months with BAM I have learnt so much and continue to learn everyday.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The apprenticeship is very well structured and the early careers team at BAM do a great job of supporting you through college and do routine chats while you are working on site and there are very approachable if you have any issues.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
At BAM we get loads of support in every aspect. The early careers team were great when we started offering a full induction in Leeds before we started at college and really taking their time to explain everything.
While working on site everyone is very helpful, my boss is really friendly and helpful as well. BAM offer loads of events, benefits and support.
One thing that I am really impressed with is their focus on safety at work and also their mental health awareness. We have a safe and well event that we must attend and it focuses on being safe at work but also what support there is for you if you are struggling mentally which is a great initiative!
While working on site everyone is very helpful, my boss is really friendly and helpful as well. BAM offer loads of events, benefits and support.
One thing that I am really impressed with is their focus on safety at work and also their mental health awareness. We have a safe and well event that we must attend and it focuses on being safe at work but also what support there is for you if you are struggling mentally which is a great initiative!
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The BAM Early Careers Team are great in assisting with any issues, while you are at college there is so much support, everything is taken care of so you just need to turn up and do the work.
BAM have a long lasting relationship with Leeds College of Building which means that it is all seamless and works very well to get the most of yourself.
All the staff at Leeds College of Building are very helpful and where they have experience with previous BAM apprentices they can relate and offer very good advice.
We also are all given the opportunity after we finish to go straight into our level 6 degree apprenticeship which I believe is another 3.5 years. It is great because the whole time because if you choose to do this it takes 5.5 years but you get 5.5 years of very good experience in a tier 1 construction company and you also get your degree with no debt at the end of it.
BAM have a long lasting relationship with Leeds College of Building which means that it is all seamless and works very well to get the most of yourself.
All the staff at Leeds College of Building are very helpful and where they have experience with previous BAM apprentices they can relate and offer very good advice.
We also are all given the opportunity after we finish to go straight into our level 6 degree apprenticeship which I believe is another 3.5 years. It is great because the whole time because if you choose to do this it takes 5.5 years but you get 5.5 years of very good experience in a tier 1 construction company and you also get your degree with no debt at the end of it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
BAM will first put me through my Level 4 qualification and at the end of this I will have my ICE EngTech qualification.
Then after my Degree I will have a degree that is all paid for, I will also have completed my IEng (Incorporated Engineer) with ICE.
After this they will also offer time and help with you getting your chartership from what I understand so they really do support you the whole way through.
These qualifications give me the academic experience to be a very competent engineer and continue developing.
As the Level 4 and Level 6 is all done at Leeds College of Building and their University Centre it means you get to know all the lecturers and they oversee your whole education from college leaver to getting your degree.
Then after my Degree I will have a degree that is all paid for, I will also have completed my IEng (Incorporated Engineer) with ICE.
After this they will also offer time and help with you getting your chartership from what I understand so they really do support you the whole way through.
These qualifications give me the academic experience to be a very competent engineer and continue developing.
As the Level 4 and Level 6 is all done at Leeds College of Building and their University Centre it means you get to know all the lecturers and they oversee your whole education from college leaver to getting your degree.
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
BAM have a sports and social club that you can join which offers you group trips and events in your area.
They also host the BAMathon every June where they encourage people to exercise and there is competition between people and sites which I am looking forward to!
They also host the BAMathon every June where they encourage people to exercise and there is competition between people and sites which I am looking forward to!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great support
Continued development and support
Big focus around Health & Safety and mental wellbeing
Great benefits
Well looked after while at college
Continued development and support
Big focus around Health & Safety and mental wellbeing
Great benefits
Well looked after while at college
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAM?
Be prepared to live away from home, as BAM is site based we must move with wherever the sites are and while they do try to place you near to home you could be living away from home straight out of college. From what I've heard from fellow apprentices BAM offer lots of support with this though, extra money for living away, or you can live in a hotel during the work week and commute back home on the weekends.
The work is site based so a lot of it is setting out and getting outside and being hands on where things are actually happening and taking shape.
Be patient as well, to start with when you go to site it can be very overwhelming, lots of new faces, loads of new information, plant trucking around site, long hours etc but if you are patient you learn that everyone is really nice and friendly, you do learn quickly when you are on site and exposed to it in real life so it is a great if you are willing to put yourself out there and be willing to learn.
The work is site based so a lot of it is setting out and getting outside and being hands on where things are actually happening and taking shape.
Be patient as well, to start with when you go to site it can be very overwhelming, lots of new faces, loads of new information, plant trucking around site, long hours etc but if you are patient you learn that everyone is really nice and friendly, you do learn quickly when you are on site and exposed to it in real life so it is a great if you are willing to put yourself out there and be willing to learn.
