Hi, I’m Umar and I work within the Buildings Civil Infrastructure team at AECOM in our Manchester office. Alongside my work I’m studying a level 5 apprenticeship in Civil Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University.What team do you work for and what does your role entail?
I’m an Apprentice Technician working in the Civils team. In our team we produce designs for vital infrastructure assets like roads, drainage, utilities, street signs, car parks and pavements. As an apprentice I am directly involved in producing the design of these assets. This includes using software such as CAD, carrying out complex calculations which influence design and preparing reports to comment on and justify design choices. There are also elements of liaising with clients and other consultants in order to manage and coordinate your work. As part of my role, I have the opportunity to go out on site to meet clients and contractors, allowing me to watch things that I have designed being built. Sometimes I am even given the responsibility to supervise other contractors that have been appointed by us.
How has the AECOM Apprentice programme developed your career so far?
The AECOM Apprentice programme has been an important part of my development, allowing me to expand both my hard and soft skills. If your aim is to get far in a career in engineering, AECOM will guide you every step of the way. The AECOM Apprentice programme has allowed me to tailor my skillset in such a way that I was able to gain professional accreditation with the Institution of Civil Engineers less than 2 years after starting my apprenticeship. This means that I now carry an industry-recognised seal of approval which demonstrates my technical competency and capability to both clients and consultants alike. As a result, I am able to take on more responsibility and further my knowledge. What stood out to me most during my time on this programme was the opportunity I had to meet other apprentices from across the country as part of multiple team-building days. On one such occasion we had the opportunity to visit army barracks in Nottingham where we took part in physical activities aimed at enhancing our leadership and team working skills.
Why did you choose AECOM?
AECOM is arguably one of the largest, most highly acclaimed multi-national engineering firms in the world. As a result, we have the opportunity to work on very large, high-profile jobs around the world. In my team I have worked on projects for Cyprus, Libya and some parts of Europe. These opportunities give you valuable experience you may not otherwise receive elsewhere. We also operate in many other parts of the world outside of the UK because of our global reach. With offices in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, America and Asia there is always opportunity to work elsewhere within the same organisation. More importantly, working in such a professional environment surrounded by experts in various fields is hugely advantageous and will grant you the experience needed for a long, successful career in engineering.
