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Take a Closer Look: My first six months at Curtins

Take a Closer Look: My first six months at Curtins

16 January 2018
Author: Owen Smith
Category: Birmingham, Bristol, Careers, Civil and Structural, Dublin, Environmental, Infrastructure, Kendal, Leeds, Liverpool, Residential, Transport Planning

Owen is a 19 year old college student who joined Curtins’ Liverpool Office as an Apprentice Technician back in June 2017. Here he touches on his experiences with the company throughout his first 6 months…

“I’m one of a handful of technicians we have here at the Liverpool Office and I work with different engineers from various specialisms including structures, civil and transport.

During my time at Curtins I have learnt so much, from simple things such as how to compose a professional email, to getting to grips with various software used in engineering, such as CAD, REVIT and blue-beam.

Some of my day to day tasks include:

Getting into the office at 8am to prepare my workstation and reply to emails, ready for an 8.30am start
Assisting Engineers and Technicians in delivering design projects
Laising with other construction professionals in the development of drawing information
Delivering production information within defined timescales

The most challenging thing during the last 6 months has definitely been time management. Juggling work projects with college and NVQ deadlines is no mean feat! However my mentor at Curtins – assigned to me in my first week – is always there to help and offer advice. I’ve found having to constantly meet deadlines is a great way for me to actually improve my time management and organisational skills – I am definitely getting better at planning my time effectively.

The aspect of the role I have enjoyed the most is the variety of local projects we work on – iconic buildings such as Exchange Flags and Liverpool’s Albert Dock, as well as sporting facilities like Everton FC’s training ground. Being able to see first hand the work you helped create is truly amazing! A particular highlight was taking part in the construction of the Institute of Civil Engineer’s world breaking LEGO bridge when it came to Liverpool last year.

Going forward, I am excited at the prospect of furthering my career in engineering, and I am proud to have started my journey with such a reputable company.”