Sam Nicholson

What is your job title and department?
Assistant Technician, Civils. I am just starting a higher-level apprenticeship, Level 5 Construction Management: Civil Engineering.

Why did you decide to pursue an apprenticeship?
I decided to pursue the apprenticeship path, as I have always been a hands-on learner and I thought that it would suit me better to gain access to my career path. It is also a great way to gain qualifications that are industry recognised. You are also getting paid to learn, which is always a bonus.

What is the best part of your apprenticeship?
For me, the best part of my apprenticeship is seeing how things are put into practice and the decisions and processes that happen in order to achieve a design decision or project – as well as being around people who have years of experience and knowledge that you can tap in to and help you learn.

What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Go for it. For me personally it has been one of the best things I have done. It allows you to learn on the job and gain experience in your field of work, which you simply can’t get to the same degree in full-time education. Also, to mention that something I didn’t know about when I first started looking at apprenticeships, is that they are not limited to lower down qualifications and you can go all the way up to degree level.