Apprentice Review
at Arup
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Civil Engineering
Cardiff / Caerdydd
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
3.5 /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
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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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
I primarily work as a CAD technician which involves producing drawings packs for projects and completing 2D/3D models for these drawings. I use MicroStation and OpenRoads within my team to complete these tasks. As I progressed through my apprenticeship I've also taken on engineering related work which involves 3D utility coordination and design, pavement build ups, and transportation route constraint identification. I work on a broad range of projects daily/weekly.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
University is interesting since it helps me to understand the theory behind engineering in work. I've found the majority of work completed in university is not relevant to what is done in engineering, however I still think its interesting and important to learn. My employer has been great so far, supporting my development and recognising achievements during my programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed my communication and presentation skills during the programme. Also, technical and problem solving has improved since starting the apprenticeship since design involves thinking ahead on how changes could potentially impact other parts of the design. I have had the opportunity to learn new skills such as 2D and 3D CAD modelling.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
It was the first time my team had hired an apprentice so the initial starting stage had some hiccups, however, the team made an effort to teach me new things. University can be a bit difficult sometimes as they won't respond to emails until a few weeks before the course starts so you're left in the dark for a while.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My employer is understanding and supportive. I have a brilliant team that has helped me throughout my apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I think its difficult for a training provider to help everyone since there are so many apprentices. Generally, USW is good, however, there are a few areas where it could improve. For instance, certain lecturers have been told they need to record lectures but still refuse to do it so if you miss a lecture for another commitment, you have nothing to go off other than a poorly structured PowerPoint which was intended to be presented during the session rather than read by itself for independent study.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Gives me a greater understanding of theory, but the majority of this theory is redundant in industry since software does the calculations shown in modules automatically for you. However, I am currently in my second year, so once I am in my final year the content may be more aligned with what I do in work.
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
There are professional networking events presented by the ICE which I occasionally attend when I am available.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arup to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Supportive community and interesting work (team dependant though). Great work life balance.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arup?
Say something to make you stand out. If you started your own business, youtube channel, or any other significant achievement, mention it within the interview. This makes you stand out and shows that you are more than a candidate that simply meets the entry requirements.
