insights Apprentices: Find a job to learn and be valued as a professional
Meet Electromechanical Degree Apprentice James, who is based in our Bristol office. In his everyday role, he gets to explore the high-tech meeting of electrical and mechanical engineering, learning hands-on as he works on real-world projects. As a degree apprentice, he also earns a degree while being paid. Here, in his blog, James describes A Day in the Life of an Early Careers Professional:
Early start (early finish!)
At AtkinsRéalis, it's up to you when you start as long as you complete your hours. So, I choose to come into the office at 8 am. Living close to the Bristol office, an early start works well for me. People with families or those living further away tend to arrive later in the day. Once I've set up my IT, I spend the morning answering emails and Teams' messages.
I'm trusted to innovate
Now, it's time to start my project work. I'm currently working on a damage tolerance project analyzing how a crack would grow in an electric airplane motor structure. Although I'm an apprentice, I have a lot of responsibility within the project, like working independently on a calculation file that sets up the analysis of the part.
Supported to thrive
Working in the office allows me to approach my project lead with any questions during the day. I'll also take time throughout the day to have short breaks from my project work to catch up with my colleagues and stretch my legs.
Sociable work culture
12 pm means only one thing—LUNCH. I head down to the canteen with my fellow apprentices and grads to grab a bite. Today's sunny, so we also head out for a walk and some fresh air.
Vibrant early careers community
I'll ease myself back into work by completing some of my non-productive tasks. I'm part of the Early Careers Forum's outreach stream, looking at how to increase attraction to our internal early careers roles. Today's task is updating the ADS&T early careers dashboard you might've used to find this blog. The Early Careers Forum is a great way for our early careers community to find opportunities with more creative freedom. Once I've updated the dashboard, I go back to my project work.
Flexible working culture
Today, I spend the rest of the day updating my spreadsheet to prepare for the analysis I'll be completing tomorrow. My typical day ends around 4 pm, but any extra time I work during the week means an earlier finish on Friday!
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hi, I'm Lesley, an Assistant Nuclear Safety & Reliability Engineer in the Nuclear Safety and Licensing team at Power New Build, Nuclear & Power. I joined AtkinsRéalis in 2022 on the graduate sch
Preview
EuropeContent type
ProjectsPublish date
09/30/2024
Summary
Hinkley Point C (HPC) is the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK since the 1990s. Technically complex and the country’s largest infrastructure project – our talented people from
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
09/26/2024
Summary
Apprenticeships are a popular route into a plethora of disciplines, including engineering. In the 2022/23 academic year, 752,150 people were participating in an apprenticeship in England alone, com
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
08/23/2024
Summary
In the Engineering a Net Zero Energy System report, the Institution of Mechanical Engineering declared that ‘Net Zero is arguably the largest engineering project undertaken by humankind.’ A career i
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
08/23/2024
Summary
Placements are a pretty popular option for students who are thinking about their future career path. They may be an essential part of your degree or entirely optional and they usually happen between
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/31/2024
Summary
Imagine blending science, creativity, and problem-solving and you’ve got yourself the role of a Ground Engineer. This profession goes beyond technical excellence - your work is the very fabric of
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/29/2024
Summary
On graduating from Ulster University with a degree in Civil Engineering, Simone joined AtkinsRéalis' Graduate Development Programme in Belfast and has been at AtkinsRéalis ever since. She's prog
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/25/2024
Summary
Hello, future game-changers! My name is Caleb, and I'm a graduate consultant at AtkinsRéalis. If you've been thinking about applying for a graduate scheme job and may be wondering what it's li
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/25/2024
Summary
With over 800,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students leaving university every year in the UK alone, it’s easy to see why the market for graduate schemes is a competitive one. With how compe
Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/12/2024
Summary
Amidst the rising call for energy-efficient solutions and the transformative force of artificial intelligence (AI), electrical engineers spark the circuit of innovation. With a deep-rooted passion f
Related jobs
Salary
£30,500 - £33,500 depending on role and location
Location
Nationwide
Job Type
Full Time
Brand
Atkins
Career Area
Software Graduate Scheme 2024
Market
Clean power
Security, aerospace & defence
Transportation
Nuclear
Category
Graduate
Location
Birmingham
Derby
Sheffield
Epsom
Edinburgh
Cardiff
Description
As a Software graduate, you'll enjoy variety, working on large and small projects and experiencing different aspects including consulting, design or overseeing construction.
Reference
GR-209
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£30,500 - £33,500 depending on role and location
Location
Nationwide
Job Type
Full Time
Brand
Atkins
Career Area
Geospatial and Geomatics Graduate Scheme 2024
Market
Clean power
Security, aerospace & defence
Nuclear
Category
Graduate
Location
Birmingham
Whitehaven
Manchester
London
Bristol
Glasgow
Description
As one of our Geospatial Graduates you’ll work on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects and initiatives such as helping the UK to achieve its ambitious Net Zero targets.
Reference
GR-194
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£30,500 - £33,500 depending on role and location
Location
Nationwide
Job Type
Full Time
Brand
Atkins
Career Area
Digital and Technology Graduate Scheme 2024
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Graduate
Location
London
Bristol
Description
Our Digital and Technology graduate programme has been designed to give you an insight into a wide variety of areas of work and the chance to explore where your skills and interests lie.
Reference
GR-191
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Talent community
Would you like to know more? Not ready to apply? Join our talent community to stay connected and engaged with us at AtkinsRéalis.
Find out more