Hi, I’m Tod and I work within the Roads (Civils) Engineering team at AECOM in our Exeter office. Alongside my work I’m studying a level 6 degree apprenticeship in Civil Engineering at the University of Exeter.What team do you work for and what does your role entail?
I work for the streets team down in Exeter. My role involves creating a design or model for a stretch of road that our client has asked us to investigate. The client will list a specification that we will have to build the project too. Once the design is finished we can test that design using a piece of software called Vissim. A model can test anything from how people in the real world react when driving, to how a new design/layout can cope with vehicles. All this information is then collated and sent to the client to influence their decision on how a project will then be progressed.
What is your favourite project you have worked on and why?
My favourite projects that I have worked on so far must be the A303 Stonehenge and A38 Tyburn Road. The A303 has given us/me problems that we have had to work through as a team or individually. I feel that if the same issues arise on other projects I can use my knowledge to help others. The A38 was one of my first projects where I had the chance to build the A38 model from nothing with one of my colleagues. Since then it has been worked on by numerous people, and I feel a lot of pride, being the one that laid the foundations that everyone worked from.
What advice would you give to students considering the Apprentice route with AECOM?
I believe that Apprenticeships are the best of both worlds as it allows both parties to benefit. Being able to get on the job experience while learning, I believe, develops you as a person and allows you to test to see if the line of work is right for you.
How has the AECOM Apprentice programme developed your career so far?
The AECOM apprentice programme has developed my career by allowing me to learn new skills whilst on the job. An example of these skills could be: learning how to use software, and communicating with the client or other members of your team. These skills can be transferred into my everyday life and problem-solving situations in the workplace. This has allowed me to adapt and overcome any problems that I might be faced with.
What are your career aspirations and how will the AECOM Apprentice programme help you achieve these?
My career aspirations are to complete my Civil Engineering degree and to get IEng status with the ICE. I would then like to further my career by creating a design team in Exeter. However, if I was given the opportunity I would like to live in a hotter country whilst still working for AECOM. Further down the line, I would like to think about being chartered with the ICE.
