Role: Technician Degree Apprentice

Career Area: Engineering Design 

Current Study Level: Degree Apprenticeship

Location: Birmingham

My role at SYSTRA

I work in the Building Structures team as a technician. My role as a technician is to use design concepts and calculations to produce drawings and models which are used on-site.

I benefit greatly from the guidance of my colleagues when producing my drawings and models, which in turn helps me develop and refine my CAD skills further. 

The CAD software I use allows me to see the structures I work with in both 2D and 3D, and enables me to see work from other disciplines on the same project. This helps me in understanding more about the project and the collaborative processes involved, and it’s great to see the work I undertake on CAD software being produced on-sites. 

Why I chose a degree apprenticeship

I’m a huge art lover, but I also really liked maths and physics at school, so knew I wanted a career that combined my interests. I also knew that I wanted hands-on experience and found that accessing the industry through an apprenticeship was the best way to do so. I researched apprenticeships during my time at Sixth Form and knew it was the path for me due to being able to implement my learning in real time, and also earn a salary while doing so. 

Before making my choice I didn’t know anyone personally who was doing an apprenticeship or anyone who was even in the industry. But after my research, other traditional routes were not as appealing to me as they were before. I went ahead and applied for both university and apprenticeships, but knew an apprenticeship was the path I wanted to take. SYSTRA stood out to me due to the wealth of projects the business undertakes, particularly the ones abroad. This really interested me as working internationally is definitely something I want to do. 

We asked Sahina…
How have your technical skills developed throughout your apprenticeship?

Throughout my apprenticeship I’ve been able to develop my CAD skills and have also been given opportunities to work on projects using various software packages. I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills in Revit and Microstation, and look to further expand my CAD experience wherever possible.  

How have you grown personally through doing an apprenticeship?

I would definitely say I have become a lot more confident through my apprenticeship due to collaborating and working with people from various disciplines and studying at university. I have been given opportunities where I have been able to step out of my comfort zone which has helped my confidence massively. 

What advice would you offer to someone who’s unsure if an apprenticeship is right for them?

I would say to research and compare the different routes. Personally, I believe apprenticeships are a great pathway into the industry, and being able to learn whilst earning is a huge advantage both professionally and personally. If you’re someone who learns best through hands-on practice, I would 100% recommend apprenticeships. 

How does SYSTRA stand out as a great place to work?

SYSTRA is a great place to work due to the support available. I have a great team and network of colleagues of all grades who are always there to support me when I need it, in my CAD work and also with any university queries. The apprentice ‘buddy’ system is great for when I need guidance with the admin side of my apprenticeship. 

What’s your favourite thing about your job right now?

My favourite thing about my job is how I get to collaborate with other disciplines. Through this, I’m able to learn more about the industry and see what opportunities are available for me as I work my way through my apprenticeship. 

Diversity is powerful. What unique perspective do you offer as an apprentice?

As an apprentice, I believe I am able to offer new and fresh perspectives due to my on-the-job and off-the-job learning at university. Being an apprentice means I am learning as I go, so I’m able to view concepts from different perspectives as I progress in my career. 

What would an entirely green future look like? How should our industry contribute?

To me a “green future” is about doing as much as we can as an industry to lower our embodied carbon. Striving for bettering current and future processes and operations is a joint and difficult effort, but will help us be as green as possible. 

You can spend your lunchbreak with anyone you admire – who would you choose?

Due to my love for art and interest in my career, I would love to have lunch with Zaha Hadid. Her work challenges conventional standards in both design and engineering and shows how innovative ideas can be both functional and aesthetic. Being an apprentice, I would greatly benefit from her ability to combine creativity and technical skills in civil engineering. 

What is your next big career goal?

My next big career goal is to gain as much experience within the industry as I can, so I can successfully complete my end point assessment to finish my apprenticeship and become an Incorporated Engineer. This would include working on-site temporarily to see the work I complete come to life. 

What excites you about your career future?

I‘m most excited to see how technological advancements shape the future of engineering and our infrastructure needs, and how we as engineers will have to adapt to these changes while maintaining industry standards and goals surrounding sustainability. 

> View all

Learn more about apprenticeships