VolkerFitzpatrick offers a range of apprenticeship opportunities in site and office-based roles, and our apprentices work alongside experienced employees to gain specific skills, as well as receiving classroom-based learning.
We offer apprenticeships from a Level 4 up to degree level, where students attend college, university or study via an online training provider and gain work experience with VolkerFitzpatrick simultaneously. We have a dedicated emerging talent team to support their training, career development and pastoral care. As well as regular reviews with the emerging talent team, they also have a mentor, who takes an active approach to guiding the apprentice to flourish in your career.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we’ve caught up with several of our past and present trainees who have risen through the ranks after joining as an apprentice. We’ve brought together their thoughts below on how their apprenticeship benefited them.
Eleanor Jackson, site engineer, working on the Brent Cross West Station project. She started her apprenticeship in July 2018 and has received two promotions, now working as a section engineer.
“My apprenticeship with VolkerFitzpatrick allowed me to gain invaluable experience, whilst studying for my degree in Civil Engineering, and the opportunity to contribute to the construction of major infrastructure, such as the Luton DART. As the company has many different disciplines, I was lucky to experience multiple aspects of engineering within a rail environment. I was able to see my studies come to life during my day job, and the support I received from my team and HR was exemplary. I was able to complete numerous courses to further my learning, which gave me a well-rounded knowledge of various engineering practices and techniques. My apprenticeship had a clear programme, and there were many opportunities available to allow me to progress. The apprenticeship confirmed that engineering was the career I wanted to pursue and gave me the tools I needed to achieve my goals.”
Malik Ahmed, trainee engineer, working at a project in Dagenham. He started at VolkerFitzpatrick in August 2022, having had a successful career in hospitality. Malik made the decision to change career direction and enter the building industry, focusing on engineering.
“It took me a while to make the decision to change career direction but once I took the leap I’m so pleased I did. I get to study while also having on the job training. It’s really helped me picture my future career.”
James Fairbrass, assistant building services engineer, worked on our sustainable warehouse project in Tottenham. He started his apprenticeship in April 2019 and was promoted in November 2021.
“The apprenticeship taught me a lot about my role, by allowing me to visit various projects, go on specific training courses and study part time at college.”