Returning from her maternity leave, Kimberly Murphy, TAC apprenticeships and skills manager, caught up with Scott Griffiths to discuss all things apprenticeships and how his career is progressing with Waterman Group.

“Apprenticeships have shown me that your limits only depend on how hard you are willing to work for something.”

Scott progressed through the apprenticeship system, gaining a Level 3 BTEC and NVQ qualification at Solihull College in civil engineering, before completing an HNC and then a degree apprenticeship at Coventry University. Graduating with a first-class honour, he is now an incorporated engineer (IEng MICE) with the Institution of Civil Engineering and a structural engineer at Waterman Group.

“I left school as a shy 16-year-old, applying for the same jobs as so many others who were much more confident than myself. Through my apprenticeships, I had gained a lot of confidence and experience, I have gone from poor AS-Levels to the highest grades possible in each of the qualifications I have undertaken.”

“One of the challenges for me in starting an apprenticeship was accepting that it’s longer than a conventional university degree. However, in the time that I’ve undertaken my apprenticeship, this has reduced. For what is a five-year route through university now only takes six years through an apprenticeship. On top of this, it can put you in a much more useful position than an equivalent new graduate.”

Having been through the End Point Assessment last year, the best and most valuable advice Scott shared for employers with apprentices was, “to not lose sight of the EPA throughout the apprenticeship, and that the ongoing admin and preparation that comes with it is essential. Apprentices are likely to be focussed on their degree element of the apprenticeship and prioritise their degree over the EPA, leaving it until they finish their last semester, so it is important for line managers and mentors to support with portfolio building and ensure they are on track. The EPA will come round faster than expected, and I can say from personal experience that it's not particularly fun trying to piece it all together at the end!”

Kimberly Murphy, TAC apprenticeship and skills manager, is in agreement, “Finding the right line managers is incredibly important for an apprentice and the whole experience of an apprenticeships. In addition, mentors and buddies can provide additional support, especially if they are emerging professionals with previous experiences of completing an apprenticeship when they can offer shared experiences and real-life advice. The more support we can provide our apprentices at the beginning of their journey, the better engineers they will become.”

Nick Harrison, group learning & development director at Waterman Group, said: “It’s important for mentors to take an active role in progress review meetings with the training provider and the EPA process.”

“Having been both a mentor and mentee myself, I am a huge advocate of the mentoring process. I see it as a vital process, not only highly beneficial for the individuals involved, but also in the way it contributes to the success of the business as a whole. Mentors have a pivotal role to play in supporting our apprentices both in the workplace and through the relationships they build with the college or university.”

Waterman have developed a mentoring guide and supporting documentation for the business which has helped break down the barriers and help set smart targets for all.

Nick continues: “The guide is an important way for us to help keep apprentices and their mentors focused on the EPA process and the next steps, in order not to lose momentum following the achievement of their qualification.”

Kimberly adds: “Thanks to Scott for sharing his story. We look forward to seeing your career develop in the industry. Sitting on both the ACE Emerging Professionals group and Constructing Excellence Generation 4 Change Committee in the West Midlands, I’m sure there is lots more we will see from him as his career progresses further!”

Technical Apprenticeship Consortium (TAC) develops and maintains apprenticeship standards in engineering. Part of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). TAC works with all consultancies to manage their apprenticeship and support their delivery. With direct links to training providers and strong track record of working with them and the professional institutes, they make sure the industry is promoting best practice.

Find out more about apprentices and how they can help your business meet its skills needs in our Apprentices FAQ. Please note TAC is now independent of ACE, find out more.