Celebrating the future of engineering for National Apprenticeship Week 2025

Apprenticeships play a valuable role in shaping the future of the engineering industry and our apprentices at Rodgers Leask are integral to our work, bringing a fresh perspective to all that they work on.

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 we are proud to spotlight our apprentices and their experiences. Through dedicated mentorship to real-world application, our committed apprentices are developing the skills necessary to excel as they progress through what we hope is a long and fulfilling career in engineering.

To give a deeper insight into their journeys, we asked our apprentices to share their experiences and highlights as an apprentice at Rodgers Leask so far, along with their advice for others exploring a similar path.

What is your current role at Rodgers Leask and what apprenticeship course are you undertaking?

Danielle: I’m a finance apprentice and taking an accounts and finance assistant course.

Finley: My role is an apprentice in the residential team within the civils department. I am currently undertaking a degree apprenticeship in which I am obtaining a BEng in civil engineering at the University of Derby.

Ben: My role is civil engineering technician in the commercial team, and I am currently taking the Level 6 BEng Civil Engineering course at Coventry University.

Charlie: I am currently a junior technician and I’m most of the way through a design and build technician apprenticeship.

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

Danielle: At the time I was wanting to change career – I had been in the early years industry for eight years. Going down the apprenticeship route seemed like the most beneficial option to help me make this change. To be learning whilst also gaining valuable experience seems like an offer you can’t refuse. The apprenticeship process also helped the change to be a bit less daunting!

Finley: I chose to do an apprenticeship because I saw a huge opportunity to get a head start in civil engineering, instead of just completing a regular university course. This is because I get on the job experience for the whole duration of my degree, giving me a massive advantage over other people in the industry of a similar age.

Ben: I felt that being able to learn and work simultaneously would allow me to use new concepts instantaneously.

Charlie: I chose to enrol in an apprenticeship as I wanted to gain further education in my current field of work while simultaneously gaining work experience and on the job learning.

How do you manage combining your studies with working?

Danielle: So far everything is going very smoothly. I get one study day per week, where I will plan out my time and what I want to complete by the end of the session. This really helps me to stay on track and gives the sense of achievement once completed. As time goes on, I am taking on more responsibilities and this is also helping me to understand my course further.

Finley: I go to university once a week, and any coursework I receive or revision I must do, I try to spend 1 hour a day in the week to get these things completed. It is hard work, but I know it will be worth it in the long run.

Ben: With my studies being undertaken on a day-release basis, I aim to finish each of these days with a good understanding of the learning. Sometimes this does not happen, so I tend to use any free time between projects or after work for modules or concepts I am struggling to grasp.

Charlie: To effectively combine the two, I ensure to dedicate specific time towards each area so that my studies and work can be completed thoroughly.

Would you recommend this route to others and if so, why?

Danielle: Absolutely! Being supported within the workplace for both your studies and workload is a real help when starting out in a new industry. It is also very rewarding to be able to put your studies into practice.

Finley: I would definitely recommend this route to others because it gives you a huge head start on the people who have chosen to solely go to university or other forms of education, due to the on the job experience you gain from the apprenticeship. Another benefit is also that there is no cost to you, saving you lots of money in the long run when you compare it to what a typical university student ends up paying for their degree.

Ben: Yes, I would recommend this route because I am able to improve my understanding through working with senior professionals and colleagues on a daily basis, who help and encourage me to maintain and improve my knowledge of engineering concepts and their applications.

Charlie: I would recommend this route as you are able to gain a great combination of work experience with further specific knowledge through your studies.

To find out more about our apprenticeships and graduate schemes visit our careers page: https://rodgersleask.com/careers/