Case Study Kairo

What was your experience of training before becoming an Apprentice ?

I completed Level 3 Aeronautical Engineering at Stanstead Airport but it was difficult to progress and find a job in the industry

What challenges did you experience before starting your apprenticeship?

I was working but this was only part time, so money was tight.

What were you doing before becoming an apprentice?

Working in a trampoline park

What is it about being a highways Maintenance apprentice that you enjoyed?

Every day was different, going to different locations and exploring London. I did different jobs for example the dig team, white top, black top.

Tell me what you have done so far – from starting the apprenticeship to now?

I successfully completed my apprenticeship, then became a Turnkey project coordinator, a Planner. I see the job go from planning, liaising with clients, planning the routes for the teams.

What do you enjoy most?

The challenges and coming up with solutions to problems.

Would you advise this as a route for others?

Yes I would, you must be able to get effective relationships and not be afraid of the cold!

What are your short term and long term aspirations?

To progress and develop a career.

What challenges have you face in the job so far?

Learning new skills in an industry I didn’t know about and working in a team.

What are you most proud of so far?

My progression and what I have achieved at a young age, I am 22. I hope my career will be:

• Passed my Highway Maintenance apprenticeship
• Became a Planner
• Next a Turnkey Project Co-Ordinator
• Reinstatement Planner
• Reinstatement Supervisor
• Next Job Reinstatement Manager!

Case Study - Finn

What was your experience of School?

I enjoyed secondary school and was very hardworking to ensure that I reached above my targets grades, when it got to A-levels I didn’t enjoy it as much, I wanted to work with my hands and feel like I’m making a difference which is why I left and started working.

What challenges did you experience before starting your apprenticeship?

Money, money was an issue for me when I first started driving as I wasn’t earning a lot and had to pay for a lot of things for my car, it was a challenging time for me as I didn’t know how to make the money to pay for it, I managed to pick up some more shifts at work to pay for it alongside education

What were you doing before becoming an apprentice?

I was doing carpentry before becoming an apprentice, this made me confident using power tools and working with my hands and became confident in myself and that I can achieve anything I want.

What is it about being a highways Maintenance apprentice that you enjoyed?

I have enjoyed the progress I have made, when I first started the other apprentices had more knowledge on what they were doing than me, this made me feel behind, I decided to put myself out there and let my team members know what I want to achieve and learn, this made me progress fast and gain confidence in what I was doing.

Tell me what you have done so far – from starting the apprenticeship to now?

I started with not much if not any knowledge of street works, after the initial three weeks training period I had a basic understanding on the work and what to expect when going out on site, when I first went out on site I started to learn the techniques and the way my team works so that I can adjust to their pattern, I was working on white top for around five moths then switched over to blacktop, I have been doing blacktop for the past two months. I am very confident on white top and using all power tools, I am also gaining a lot of confidence on black top as I put myself out there as soon as I started to ensure that I progressed quickly.

What do you enjoy most?

I enjoy all aspects of street works, I enjoy switching it up every few months as it’s a changes the work and doesn’t feel repetitive, I’d say I more confident In white top as I spent a long period of time on it learning lots of new techniques and gaining a lot of confidence in myself on it. Id say I could work on white top confidently now with another experienced white topper without any difficulties as I can always ask for advice from more experienced staff.

Would you advise this as a route for others?

I would advise this route for anyone that is interested in physical work and learning new things, it has been amazing opportunity for me and has helped me find a path that I want to go down and exceed my goals and progress as much as I possibly can.

What are your short term and long term aspirations?

My short term goals are to pass my end point assessment and get my street works, this will help me earn more money and become a ganger, this is a big aspiration for me as I have worked very hard to prove that I am willing to learn new things and progress always, so completing my apprenticeship and getting my street works will be a reward and will show the hard work has paid off.

What challenges have you face in the job so far?

I worked with an individual that I didn’t like working with as they didn’t communicate their method of working to me, this was a big challenge for me as I didn’t enjoy working with him and it destroyed my motivation, the person has now left so I am happy I don’t have to work with him.

What are you most proud of so far?

I am most proud of building my reputation so I am trusted to work effectively without supervision of my team members, this allows me to do patches by myself and have trust in myself and learn new things as I am still new to doing my own stuff and I get the opportunity to ask questions if I get stuck so I will be confident when I am a ganger.