Joel is an Apprentice with Arup's Infrastructure team based in our Solihull office.
What do you study and where?
I have just finished my Level 3 Construction and the Built Environment course at Solihull College and am now working towards completing my NVQ.
Why did you choose the Arup apprenticeship programme?
I heard about Arup after I told my careers advisor at school this was the discipline I wanted to go into. I told her where I had already applied, and she responded with why don’t you try Arup. I went home and researched Arup, and I instantly knew after seeing all the impressive things that they do I wanted to become an apprentice there. When I applied, I was lucky enough to get through to the interview stage. As soon as I arrived, I felt so welcomed and everyone was so polite. This put Arup at the top of the list for me. In that brief time, they really showed that everyone is involved in all the projects and there is no hierarchy, everyone is equal. I also chose Arup because their employment offer was unmatched by any of my others. This made the choice of what apprenticeship to choose easy.
“As soon as I arrived, I felt so welcomed and everyone was so polite. This put Arup at the top of the list for me. In that brief time, they really showed that everyone is involved in all the projects and there is no hierarchy, everyone is equal. ”
What do you get up to in your day-to-day role?
I currently work in the Highways team as an apprentice and my day-to-day work consists of mainly using CAD but also other things such as excel and other engineering programs. I have been here for just over two years, and I have learnt a wide range of different skills. I have had a big involvement with the project I'm currently working on, I'm given responsibility to make my own decisions and put thoughts forward about design etc. My CAD work ranges from setting up the drawings/models to making changes to the final product to ensure its perfect to send off to the client.
What has been your most enjoyable moment / project so far?
My most enjoyable project and what I am currently working on is the Silvertown Tunnel. This tunnel runs under the River Thames in London and will link Greenwich and Canary Wharf. I have really enjoyed learning new skills on this project as there are such a diverse range of skills that need to be used. I feel very involved with this project and that makes it even more enjoyable to be working on.
What are your future aspirations?
My future aspirations now I have finished my level 3 qualification at college is to finish my NVQ and then move on to the Level 6 degree. After this I would like to obtain my IEng and Chartership in this field. In the future I also want to look at working across other Arup offices to broaden my skills further and also explore what various places in the world have to offer.