Profile

I started in 2008 on an Apprenticeship with Amey where I moved around the UK designing and working with the construction teams to build railway stations and other railway structures. The company paid for my training where I completed a BTEC in Civil Engineering, a HNC in Civil Engineering and I am now doing my degree. I went to college one day a week during my apprenticeship and completed professional training with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).  I was then offered a role as a Civil Engineer on the Great Western Electrification using the High Output Trains.

As a Civil Engineer on the railway, I go out on the High Output Trains and build structures along the railway. We use several different trains to build different types of foundations. Our teams use a piling train that vibrates large steel tubes into the ground and when we can push them in anymore, we use a large hammer to knock them down to the correct level. We also  use a train that digs holes, lift metal cages and bolts into the hole and then mixes concrete together (similar to making a very big cake) and pours the concrete into the hole.

During this role I have been able to travel abroad and across the UK to test the trains. I go out on site with the high output team to instruct them where to place the foundations, complete lots of paperwork and attend lots of meetings to discuss the designs/construction processes. I enjoy the role because it has the right amount of responsibility along with the freedom to go out on site, travel and have a quiet day in the office if I want to.  I work with a lot of interesting people and we have a great time on the night shifts working together.

My typical day shift (rarely on days):

09.00  Arrive at office
09.05  Get a Costa Coffee
09.10  Have a discussion regarding the days work
09.15 Start producing document or help plan out the night shifts.
10.00 Go to meetings, site walkouts on the railway or paperwork to tell the staff how to install the foundations
12.30 Lunchtime – Go for a walk into the town centre and get some lunch
13.00 Make a coffee/tea and order any materials and equipment that may be required for site
14.00 Answer emails and respond to any queries about the engineering

TO BE CONTINUED

My typical night shift:

22.00 Arrive at the High Output Operating Base (HOOB – i.e. train depot) + have a coffee
22.30 Have a team brief about the night works to be done
22.45 Prepare the paperwork
23.00 Get in car to travel from HOOB to access point on railway line
24.00 Meet the team and train at access point
00.30 Get on train to travel to foundation location
01.00 Split the train up into the seperate working sections (i.e. vibration and hammer section)
02.00 Set out the foundations using GPS equipment and help with issues on train from team
03.00 Walk along track checking foundation positions using laser, distometer, tape, samsumg tablet  and GPS equipment
05.00 Have a coffee and some food
07.00 Continue walking along track to check foundation positions using laser, distometer, tape, samsumg tablet  and GPS equipment
08.00 Get back on train and travel back to access point
08.45 Arrive home
09.30 Write up foundation information and email across to Design Interface Manager along with a shift report of all foundations completed.
10.00 Go to sleep!

Would buy materials to hold event to encourage not only apprenticeships but also professional accreditation.