Jacob Clutten – Case Study
Age: 17
Company: Arup
Apprenticeship: Level 3 Building Services Design Technician Apprenticeship Standard
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The thing I most enjoy about working, is most definitely the aspect of socialising and working collaboratively within a team. I do also however enjoy the focused working time that I can just perform at my best in a focused working environment.
What project(s) are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working various projects – a lot of these consist of Data Centre fit outs of Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health, from a design standpoint. This can consist of various roles and tasks, over several months. This can include working closely with engineers and architects to develop a detailed design to meet all needs of a client, all the way to site visits analysing design implementation at the construction of the building. Typically, everyday varies in the tasks I am completing for that day. I feel this is the best way to work as it keeps you motivated. Each day I am given responsibility for my own areas of work, this freedom and flexibility has developed my progress in my position exponentially.
What do you see as the biggest challenges in your job?
The biggest challenge definitely for me is finding the right balance between work and academic studies as it is often easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by deadlines for both college work and projects on going at work. However, I still see this as one of the best learning experiences and when things do get tough, my employer Arup and STEGTA offer a wide range of support methods to help me in all aspects of my career.
What encouraged you to do an Apprenticeship?
I chose an Apprenticeship, as I felt restricted and held back in a full academic classroom-based course. The opportunity to do an apprenticeship was perfect for me, as it allowed me to use and develop existing skills and also develop new skills. These are implemented in every aspect of my daily work, using my skills for jobs on a daily basis gives me great satisfaction. Having an apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to gain real life work experience and can help guide your career path and shape you as a person. However, as much as I wanted to escape schools’ academic systems, it’s also important to remember with an apprenticeship you study for a percentage of your time, this gave me a perfect balance of expanding my qualifications and gaining industry experience.
What did you do prior to your Apprenticeship?
I joined Arup as an apprentice late August 2019 after just completing my GCSE’s earlier that summer. I quickly progressed into my role of a Building Services Design Apprentice Technician, where I am supported by my employer and Arup’s training partner STEGTA, on all training aspects of my apprenticeship.
What are the benefits?
The mains benefits of choosing an apprenticeship is that you gain precious work experience, industry contacts and relations as well as completing academic studies. It provides perfect opportunity to all within early careers a chance to prove themselves and learn. An apprenticeship is just the start, so this allows you to branch out where you want your career to go.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are to gain greater experience in a wide range of different job roles based in the design team I currently work in. Also, to develop and specify my careers choices to that role. I aim to hopefully progress onto higher level academic studies whilst also working.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Outside of work I spend a lot of my time playing computer games and socialising with my friends and family.