At JRC, we firmly believe in creating an environment where early career professionals can thrive. With the arrival of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we wanted to take a moment to catch up with our apprentices to reflect upon their individual journey’s and recognise all that they have achieved so far.
We asked Theo Hill (Level 4 Civil Engineering Senior Technician Apprentice) how his apprenticeship has helped to strengthen his skill set so far:
“Since starting my apprenticeship with JRC, I have strengthened my organisational skills which has led me to be trusted with managing some projects at a small scale. I’ve developed my CAD skills and the ability to be critical of my own work. Working at JRC has also given me the confidence to improve my collaborative skills both internally and externally with clients.”
Sam Wilson (Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician Apprentice) who joined us last year, reflected on how the team at JRC has supported his learning and development so far and how he values our guidance:
“JRC has supported me with the work I am doing, asking if I understand anything and taking the time to go through bits that I don’t understand. I have developed lots of skills while working with JRC and hope to learn more in the future. They also have supported me with my college work and teaching me what to do with my KSBs.”
We understand the importance of supporting apprentices not just in the beginning, but throughout each stage of their journey so that they can build on their confidence and capability through the gradual introduction of hands-on work and responsibililities. Oliver Goody (Level 6 Civil Engineer Degree Apprentice), spoke about how this has shaped his professional development:
“My apprenticeship has helped me grow professionally by helping me develop stronger technical skills through hands‑on work and improving my professional writing ability. It’s helped me grow in confidence, communication and time management. Working in a real team environment has helped me take responsibility for my own work and handle feedback constructively.”
Tom Mould (Level 6 Civil Engineer Degree Apprentice) also highlighted the importance of being trusted with higher levels of involvement in projects on a variety of schemes. Tom shared with us what he is most proud of so far:
“What I’m most proud of is how quickly I’ve been trusted to get involved with real projects. I’ve had the opportunity to work on different schemes, support the design process, and see projects progress from initial concepts right through to construction on site. Using design software and producing accurate technical drawings has been especially rewarding.”
And to bring it back to the very start, one of the most important decisions an apprentice can make is choosing the right place to work, that they feel will provide them with the tools and opportunities needed to progress. Speaking with our newest apprentice Oscar Burkill (Level 4 Civil Engineering Senior Technician Apprentice), he gave us insight into why he chose JRC for his apprenticeship:
“I chose JRC for my apprenticeship as I preferred that they are a smaller company so that you can get to know everyone well in the team. I’d heard good recommendations and felt the company would best help me progress through both learning valuable skills on the job and having their support with my college studies.”
Our apprentices are an essential part of our team and their reflections show just how much potential they bring to the industry. We’re proud to support them, proud of what they’ve achieved, and excited to see where their careers will take them next.