Aniksha's Apprenticeship Journey
Aniksha’s Journey: From Work Experience to Civil Engineering Apprentice
For Aniksha, a passion for understanding how things work began at an early age. Through determination, valuable work experience opportunities, and a willingness to embrace every challenge, she has built a strong foundation for a successful career in Civil Engineering.
Following the recent completion of her Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship at SOCOTEC UK, Aniksha is making an impact within the infrastructure sector while continuing to develop her professional qualifications.
Discovering a Passion for Engineering
Aniksha's journey into engineering started when she was just 15 years old, during a week-long work experience placement.
The experience opened her eyes to the engineering industry and sparked an interest that would shape her future career. Following the placement, she was invited her back to work during the summer holidays, giving her the opportunity to experience different departments and gain an even greater understanding of the industry.
"I was fortunate to participate in a week long work experience with Westmoreland Mechanical Testing and Research, which was really interesting and I learnt so much. Throughout the summer I joined them working in different departments and getting a feel of the engineering industry.”
Choosing the Apprenticeship Route
Following secondary school, Aniksha enrolled at WMG Academy for Young Engineers, where she studied A-Level Product Design alongside a Double BTEC in Engineering.
Initially drawn to product design after achieving a Grade 9 at GCSE, she soon realised that engineering was where her true passion lay.
During her time at WMG Academy, she completed another work placement with TRUMPF Lasers, focusing on continuous improvement within the laboratory, while also working part-time as a Sales Assistant at Currys. It was through one of her customers at Currys that another opportunity arose - this time with SOCOTEC UK. After completing a two-week work experience placement with the company, Aniksha was offered to complete a Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship.
Recognising the opportunity ahead of her, she made the decision to leave sixth form after one year and begin her apprenticeship.
Building a Career
Today, Aniksha works within the Infrastructure Department at SOCOTEC UK as part of the Structures & Pavement (S&P) Team. The team carries out investigations on bridges, buildings and other concrete structures, collecting visual data, carrying out inspections, sampling materials, and completing laboratory testing.
Aniksha uses the information gathered by engineers both on-site and in the laboratory to prepare detailed technical reports for clients.
Alongside her practical experience, she has successfully completed her Pearson BTEC National Diploma in Civil Engineering and recently achieved her End-Point Assessment, while also progressing her application for Engineering Technician (EngTech) membership.
Learning Through Experience
One of the aspects Aniksha enjoyed most about her apprenticeship is the variety of experiences it offered.
“I am a very curious person and am very passionate about understanding how and why things work the way they do. During my apprenticeship I have been educated on hundreds of different niches and topics within the civil engineering industry.”
Classroom learning introduced her to specialist subjects such as tunnelling and marine construction, while site visits allowed her to see engineering projects first-hand and develop a much deeper understanding of the work carried out by the Structures & Pavement team.
"One of my favourite experiences within my day-to-day role has been attending site visits, this has been really helpful to deepen my understanding of what S&P do and have applied knowledge and procedures on-site to improve my reporting skills.”
The Impact of Her Apprenticeship
Reflecting on her journey so far, Aniksha believes her apprenticeship has given her far more than technical knowledge.
"My apprenticeship has been very successful and has given me plenty of opportunities to go on site visits, work/network with other internal and external early careers apprentices, and receive knowledge first hand from professionals within my workplace and classroom training. Using my qualifications and experience, I will be able to progress my education higher.”
Why Apprenticeships Matter
Aniksha believes apprenticeships provide the perfect balance between education and real-world experience.
"I prefer to learn in a more active and practical way. Having to problem solve, network and continuously improve in your role are things that can only be learnt in a workplace and are just as important and academic skill. In an apprenticeship you have a balance of learning types and styes as well and learning directly from skilled people in your team/ company which is a huge benefit.”
She also believes employers play a vital role in supporting the next generation.
"I think it is vital for employers to invest in young people! I think employers have a great opportunity to assist in building a career for a student and ensuring our industry keeps growing. Work placements/experience and apprenticeships have been a massive part of my career journey.”
Looking Ahead
Aniksha is passionate about continuing her professional development and plans to progress into higher education while expanding her knowledge across different engineering disciplines.
She is particularly looking forward to completing an internal internship with SOCOTEC's Fire, Façade and Structural Engineering Teams, giving her even broader experience within the industry.
Advice for Future Apprentices
Looking back, Aniksha believes every work experience placement played a crucial role in helping her reach where she is today.
"I am very fortunate and grateful for all the opportunities and work placements I have participated in, my journey so far is a great example of how work experience and volunteering placements can aid your career as a young person.”
Looking to the Future
Aniksha's journey highlights the power of practical experience, determination and seizing opportunities. From her first work experience placement at the age of 15 to progressing towards professional membership, she has shown that apprenticeships can provide the skills, qualifications and confidence needed to build a successful career.
At LSP, we're proud to support apprentices like Aniksha as they develop into the next generation of engineering professionals. Well done Aniksha!