14/03/16

It’s National Apprenticeship Week 14 – 18th March 2016

Adept has been part of the Apprentice Scheme run by Leeds College of Building since 2009. Currently training it’s 9^th Apprentice, Adept has found this vitally important to the success and growth of it’s business.

Erol Erturan, Managing Director at Adept says “The scheme works for us as we are able to handpick bright young talent into the business, students who are eager to learn whilst working in a live environment. More importantly though it works for the individual. Students are able to gain hands on experience and learn vital skills alongside their education. Apprentices will have a much better understanding of their chosen industry and we can help facilitate their progression into a full time career”.

Erol adds “It has huge benefits for the industry too as we contribute to a more sustainable workforce pipeline by imparting our knowledge and working methods (ISO 9001) to the future leaders in engineering and design”.

We asked some of our staff to reflect on their own experiences as an Apprentice with Adept.

PROFILE 3

James Turner joined Adept in 2007 as a Junior Structural & Civil CAD Technician after completing a BTEC National Diploma (OND) in Construction.

Although not an official Apprentice, James’ career journey is a fantastic example to students, who are motivated and willing to work hard and gain the benefits of a rewarding career in the construction industry.

James Turner, Structural Engineer & BIM Co-ordinator
BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering, Leeds Beckett University
BTEC National Diploma (OND) in Construction

Role at Adept: I am a Structural engineer & BIM Co-ordinator. Having worked my way up from the bottom of the company, first as a junior CAD technician, progressing to structural technician and now structural engineer, I have been involved in more complex projects as my experience grows. This has meant I have been able to develop a better appreciation for how buildings are put together.

Designing elements in isolation can sometimes be a hindrance, as the practicalities of construction can be lost, whereas coming through this process of drawing structures, visiting construction sites and sitting in meetings with construction teams; means it is much easier to identify potential issues. It’s a much more involved process, one that can be challenging at times, but very rewarding

Why did you choose Adept? Adept have a very supportive development culture and it was made clear to me during my interview, that I would be supported in my education and development, it was up to me how far I would go. So in September 2008 I started on a BSc in Civil Engineering at Leeds Met (now Leeds Beckett University) part time. I graduated with honours in 2013.

Best thing about working at Adept: The opportunities to learn and progress. Throughout my time at Adept, I have been on many different courses, learning to use various packages of design software, advanced computational design programming & BIM accreditation to name a few. At Adept we’re a team, working together, helping each other to solve problems, and this is also encouraged with all the various charity and social events that we are involved with.

Would you recommend the Apprenticeship scheme? I’d definitely recommend a Civil Engineering Apprenticeship to anyone who wants a job which will keep them mentally stimulated, challenged and rewarded. It’s never boring, the potential projects have a massive diversity, from housing to retail units, storage and distribution warehouses to educational facilities. While studying, it felt like I had an advantage working full time and studying part time, as I had the support of experienced chartered engineers to explain things I didn’t fully understand, in addition to the resources of a full design office. I was experiencing the application of what I was learning. To me, this is the best way of becoming an Engineer.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? My goals over the next few years will be to gain professional accreditation and to continue to develop my engineering knowledge & abilities.

Richard Parker, Director at Adept says “James has grown into a well-rounded and very capable engineer, now in charge of his own projects. He is a highly regarded member of the team and should be very proud of his achievements.” Richard adds “The Apprenticeship scheme has enabled Adept to up skill and grow local talent and to act on our CSR priorities. From the company’s humble beginnings, investing in staff development has been a key objective for Adept, crucial for the business to ensure our team remain at the forefront of the industry as leaders in engineering design and technology.”

PROFILE 2

James Hendry began his Apprenticeship programme with Adept in 2012 and is now a qualified Structural Revit Technician

James gained well deserved recognition recently when he became a professionally qualified engineering technician (EngTech), demonstrating his high level of skills and experience. James says “MICE is a globally-recognised qualification and a mark of expertise to the industry, so I am very proud of my achievement. It is really rewarding to know my hard work has been recognised”.

Matthew Ramsden, Adept Director adds “James has shown us his commitment and capabilities to look after higher profile projects. Professional development is held in high regard at Adept and building on the foundations of his Apprenticeship, James has sought further qualifications proving himself a valuable asset and team member.

Click here for details on how to become a Technician Member of Institution of Civil Engineers

James Hendry, Structural Revit Technician
Adept Apprentice: 2012-2015
HND Level 5 in Civil Engineering + NVQ Level 5, 2016-2018
HNC Level 4 in Civil Engineering, 2015
BTec National Diploma, Level 3 + NVQ Level 3, Leeds College of Building 2010-2012

Why did you choose to work at Adept? I chose to work at Adept to gain hands on experience using the latest 3D BIM software and design packages currently available to the construction industry. As a technology led practice, Adept are truly ahead of the curve in this respect and therefore the obvious choice for me. This was confirmed when Adept became the first civil and structural engineers in the UK to gain BRE BIM Level 2 certification.”

Best thing about working at Adept? For me, the most important aspect about Adept is its relaxed working environment and excellent mentoring opportunities. This includes director level involvement enabling me to seek advice and learn valuable skills from the most experienced senior team members. The open plan office provides a lively, collaborative space where everyone is approachable.

Would you recommend the Apprenticeship scheme? Yes. I would most definitely recommended the apprenticeship scheme because it enables you to gain valuable work experience and a wealth of transferable skills while you gain the academic qualifications required to progress in your chosen field/career.

Would you recommend a career in the Construction Industry / Engineering? Yes, the construction industry can offer a wide range of roles and challenges to suit all types of individuals whether it be through Engineering or other disciplines ranging from Architecture to Quantity Surveying and everything in between.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? I see myself as a well-rounded and qualified (BSc Level) Structural Engineer who is working towards gaining incorporated status within the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

PROFILE 1

Niall Park began his Apprenticeship programme with Adept in 2010 and is now a qualified Civil Engineering Technician.

Niall Park, Civil Engineering Technician
Adept Apprentice: 2010-2013
BEng (Hons) Degree, University of Bolton, 2014-2017
HNC Civil Engineering, Leeds College of Building, 2012-2014
BTec National Diploma, Leeds College of Building 2010-2012

Role at Adept: I am a Civil Engineering Technician, responsible for completing drainage and highways designs for medium sized housing schemes, together with the necessary drawing work. This includes submitting applications for Section 104, 38 and 278 agreements. I also complete external level designs and cut and fill analysis to ensure the most economical designs, which is important to ensure the programme remains on budget and on schedule. We can assess if contaminated land can be safely kept on site rather than removing it to landfill, and design the appropriate solutions.

Why did you choose Adept? They are a friendly, local company that showed promise of significant growth. When I joined in 2010 there were 7 members of staff at the company. This close knit team meant there was a lot of opportunity for me to develop a broad amount of knowledge quickly and find the route best suited to me. Now with a staff of 30, Adept have expanded into new premises and opened a second office in Manchester. This has provided me with new opportunities to work alongside senior engineers on bigger schemes such as large scale warehouses and logistics centres.

Best thing about working with Adept: The opportunities to progress further. The hands on Directors actively encourage progression via informal and formal CPD training and are happy to sit down and mentor me when required.

Would you recommend the Apprenticeship scheme? Yes. It’s a great way to learn on the job, putting into context straight away what you are learning at Uni/College helping you understand why something is important. The Apprenticeship scheme provided me with a salary and I am free from student debt.

Would you recommend a career in the Construction industry / Engineering? Yes, to anyone that likes a challenge and a different puzzle to solve every day. Each day is slightly different from the last and you have the opportunities to travel and work on prestigious projects all over the world. When a project is done you can look back and physically see what you have done.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time? Hopefully finishing off my Masters Degree, working on large projects as a Civil Engineer and helping to encourage and mentor new younger members of staff to progress in their careers.

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK