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Malachi Coote, our Civil Engineer Apprentice, shares his insight into the skills he’s learnt during his apprenticeship as part of National Apprenticeships Week 2023:

I began working at Mosaic CSE as a Civil Engineer Apprentice in January 2022 after starting my engineering journey at Riddlesdown Collegiate in South Croydon. During my time there, I discovered a joy for Maths and problem-solving, but also my creative side through subjects like Design Technology. I have had an interest in the infrastructure of cities for a while now, always admiring how a city is put together and how such impressive structures are created in a short time. This led to my curiosity in structural engineering, resulting in my plan to pursue a career as an engineer by undertaking an apprenticeship.

“Being in a working environment while learning is such a great tool to have because the skills I’m studying at college become more practical as I begin to use it in real-life scenarios.”

I chose to undertake an apprenticeship over studying full-time because I wanted to experience engineering first-hand, jumping in at the earliest opportunity and applying the knowledge I’ve learnt alongside qualified engineers in a working environment. There were also additional benefits to apprenticeships, such as being able to earn money whilst learning simultaneously, which was really appealing to me. Then there is the opportunity to see the progression of live projects from start to finish which isn’t available to the same degree when you’re studying full-time.

Getting stuck in

I applied for many apprenticeships through company websites, colleges, and government websites. I came across Mosaic CSE through Croydon College and had an interview arranged. Through this conversation, I could see Mosaic had big aspirations and I wanted to be a part of that. Since then, I have gotten stuck into a variety of work, including preparing structural drawings through AutoCAD, helping with structural calculations, and going on site visits to survey buildings. I have been involved in projects ranging from smaller residential properties to large-scale schemes in Central London worth £50million. In my short time here, I have become proficient with AutoCAD and use it on a regular basis. I have recently begun learning Revit and started applying these skills to a live project. My knowledge of engineering has grown significantly in 12 months and means I can make valid contributions towards the structure of our buildings.

Being in a working environment while learning is such a great tool to have because the skills I’m studying at college become more practical as I begin to use it in real-life scenarios. It’s also been really beneficial for me to receive help on a day-to-day basis from experienced colleagues who want to push me forward, resulting in my college work being at a higher level because I have greater understanding of my assignments. This means I can apply examples and first-hand experience into my college work. Every apprentice needs to utilize this aspect as much as possible.

A better understanding of apprenticeships

One thing I have already gained a better understanding of during my apprenticeship is that no matter what you do, you can always learn something new. Now, whatever I am working on, I always try to find out as much information as possible from the more experienced people around me.

“Apprenticeships offer what other forms of education can’t and that’s real-life experience in the sector of work you want to have a career in.”

Having worked at Mosaic for over a year now, I am coming up to the end of my apprenticeship and feel it has been an excellent choice for me as I’ve been made to feel part of a team and gained invaluable experience working on a variety of large projects. I have had the opportunity to understand the important roles of an engineer, including what is needed to complete a project through structural drawings and calculation packages, and ensuring we meet the client’s requirements through collaborations with the architects.

Looking to the future

To complete my apprenticeship, I spend one day a week attending college to complete the units required for my course, helping to finalize my portfolio of evidence and log the number of learner hours with my Assessor. All this will prepare me to apply and undergo the End Point Assessment (EPA) to become a qualified Civil Engineering Technician. In the future, I see myself continuing to achieve my degree and become Chartered, and this apprenticeship has been the best start to that journey.

I would urge more students to consider an apprenticeship because the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. You have to work a little harder to juggle working and learning, however, I believe these two things go hand in hand. Apprenticeships offer what other forms of education can’t and that’s real-life experience in the sector of work you want to have a career in. By diving into an apprenticeship, you get a much more hands on experience and as a result, will learn applicable skills that will stay with you throughout your career.

Malachi Coote