team-jake-apprentice-frog-environmental1

Meet Jake: Our First Civil Engineering Apprentice

Jake Allen has joined our technical team as an apprentice technical assistant. He’s working towards a civil engineering degree at the University of Derby.

Categories:

civil engineering degree apprenticeship

jake-allen-apprentice-frog-environmental1

Why did Jake choose a degree apprenticeship?

After sixth form, Jake knew he wanted to keep learning.

“A full degree, no debt, four years of experience and you get paid. It seemed like an absolute no-brainer.”

A week with no two days the same

Jake’s favourite part of the job is the variety. One week might mean a site visit. The next could be designing a solution for a client, delivering environmental training, going to an expo or helping prototype a new product.

In the warehouse, our team has shown him how Floc Mats® and wattles are built. He’s been out with the technical team to learn how Pipe Reactor and Silt Capture Channels prevent pollution on construction projects/ live sites. He has also joined two research & development days, testing new products and trialling storage methods for the settlement test kits we supply to clients.

Learning on site

Frog’s work is an applied science, so Jake’s training happens on site as much as possible. Sam Perkins, our Technical Manager, says the best apprentices are positive and inquisitive, because asking questions is how you learn. Jake’s first big surprise shows why: he hadn’t realised that subsoil mixing with water can count as pollution, or that it can lead to significant fines.

Construction Sites: How To Avoid Pollution Fines & Bad Press

Why are we investing in apprentices?

Richard Haine, Managing Director, said:

“Jake is our first apprentice, so this is the first time we’ve taken this route, and it’s going really well. We’d definitely like to create more opportunities for apprentices and graduates as Frog grows, but we do have to get the balance right. There’s no point taking people on unless you’ve got the capacity to give them proper support and help them develop.

For anyone starting out, I’d say follow the things you find interesting. If you’re passionate about the environment, it now touches so many different careers. Jake is studying civil engineering, for example, and sustainability has become a core part of that profession.

It’s interesting work because a lot of the questions haven’t been neatly answered yet. Things are changing quickly, there are real problems to solve, and that creates a lot of opportunities for young people coming into the industry.”

What’s next

Sam hopes that with the right support and guidance, Jake will be able to take a construction site from first enquiry right through to completion with the client.

Jake’s advice to anyone thinking about the same route is simple: “Go for it.” He’s honest that the balance of work and study can be intense, and that places on degree apprenticeships are competitive. His view is that the mix of experience and learning is worth it.

For products, services, training and technical sales support contact our technical team or call 0345 057 4040, or follow our news and updates.