Meet Lacey, an Apprentice Civil and Structural Engineer at Costain.
Lacey was delivering parcels and studying at college before joining Costain. It was only after joining Costain that she learned about the opportunities for early careers, which led her to embark on becoming an engineer.
What led you to your career at Costain?
"At the time, I was working at a bar before becoming a delivery driver for Amazon. I applied for a document controller role on the M6 junction 21a to 26 motorway upgrade project because it was close to home and sounded interesting.
"I'm a a hands-on person and knew that I wanted a career that suited that, but I didn't know what I had to get there. I had never even heard of engineering! It was only after I started at Costain that I found out about the apprenticeship opportunities, and I jumped straight in.
"Starting my working life as a barmaid in the local pub, I definitely didn't see myself within the construction industry but I am so glad I decided to make that leap."
Can you talk to us about your apprenticeship?
"The great thing about an apprenticeship is that you get to 'earn while you learn'. The learning part of the apprenticeship is classwork one day a week with a couple of assignments to complete each term.
"Most people say they take their college to work, but I very much take my work to college! Having the hands-on experience of working on live sites has really helped put real life examples with the theory.
"After three years, I successfully completed my Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering. I'm so proud! I'm now studying engineering at Salford University and I'm loving it.
"I can genuinely say that the apprenticeship was a fantastic experience and I found it to be a great way to get into engineering."
Any advice to someone thinking about an apprenticeship?
"Just do it! I was a bit nervous at first, but honestly, it's the best thing I've ever done."
How does your role contribute to improving people's lives?
"The great thing about Costain is you can get involved in whatever interests you. I've been working on water sites close to home and I'm improving the infrastructure of a service that I use every day. In the future, I'd like to get experience working in nuclear energy or defence as you can see just how important a role they play for the UK."
What's your biggest professional achievement and why?
"Successfully completing my Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering is up there. I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for the support from my colleagues at Costain, as well as my friends and colleagues along the way.
"I’m also really enjoying being a black hat on site and a front-line manager. I love leading the start of shift briefings and speaking to all of the supervisors on site to plan activities. Everyday I’m having discussions about the key hazards and speaking to real experts about control measures, sharing knowledge all the time. It’s fantastic!"
What have you learned during your time at Costain?
"I’ve learned so much about myself. Really, it’s about backing yourself. As a woman, the idea of working in construction or engineering – traditionally male-dominated professions - can be quite daunting, but you should have the confidence to back yourself. It’s about going with your gut and getting stuck in. The team are amazing and there is a great level of trust with everyone having a shared sense of responsibility to make sure everything is in place and as it should be. That’s the best way for making sure that everyone is safe and can go home every day."
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