The President's Apprentice initiative started in 2005, when Gordon Masterton showed real commitment to graduates during his year in office by starting the scheme. Incoming President Richard Coackley is to continue the scheme.
Graduate members working towards professional qualification can become a President’s Apprentice. You will gain direct experience of the Presidential role and a better understanding of the workings of the Institution. Graduates also have direct access to the President. All Graduate members of ICE based in UK who have at least 2 full year’s working experience post graduation on 30 September 2011 are eligable.
You could get:
- 2 individual mentoring sessions with the President
- 2-3 group mentoring sessions with the President
- be involved with the President’s initiatives for his year
- shadow and observe how a senior and influential figure in the industry operates
- exposure to the workings of the Institution at a senior level
- experiences outside the normal work environment such as travel, visit planning, new skills and competences such as speech development, government affairs, customer (member) complaints, etc
- to attend a major influencing event at an employer, academic or client forum or a meeting with a senior civil servant or minister
- a better understanding of what the organisation does and can offer
- to meet ‘engaged’ members in your region
Your employer will receive:
- additional skills development opportunities
- a more confident employee
- a champion to support training and HR managers encouraging young engineers to become professionally qualified
- networking development outside the normal environment
- opportunities for publicity around the Apprentice
- insights on how ICE is approaching key issues facing the profession and its future
- relevant initial professional development for the employee
ICE will see more:
- involvement of younger members and a unique opportunity for development
- young engineers who can communicate their knowledge to a wide audience
- opportunities for Apprentices to liaise directly with the President (a voice to the top) to discuss issues froom a graduate member’s perspective
- opportunities to promote wider engagement of young members
Candidates will be able to spend a minimum of 6 days with the President. These will consist of a series of mentoring sessions with the President, both as a group and individually. These may be part or single days or consecutive days depending on the events that the apprentice attends. Apprentices will also have an opportunity to accompany the President on one of his regional visits. Every effort will be made to give the apprentices the opportunity to see what happens in OGGS and in our UK regions. It is hoped that employers will allow apprentices to participate in their activities in their working hours.
ICE will cover the travel costs and subsistence of the apprentices for their allocated days.
Apprentices will be allowed to accompany the President most of the time during the shadowing days, even when he is attending internal ICE meetings. There will be a need for strict discretion or, indeed, confidentiality on the part of the apprentice.
It is expected that candidates will need to develop some outputs during their involvement for ICE, for their employer, and for themselves. These could include an article/interview in NCE, in MyICE, in their regional newsletter or their company newsletter, presentation or briefing for the President, draft reports for the President or a vote of thanks after an event
What other events could I attend?
How to apply:
1 Ask your employer for permission to apply
2 Complete and return the application form (available on the website at www.ice.org.uk/apprentices to Hayley Clarke as detailed on the application form by 29th June 2011.
Apart from giving us your personal details, applicants are required to submit 500 words on "Which global challenges do you see on the horizon and how do you see Civil Engineers helping solve them?"
3 A reference from your employer supporting your application and a photo is also required.
4 Ensure that you have enclosed all the information requested.
A short list will be developed from the applications received. Those selected will be required to have a 30-minute telephone interview which will comprise standard questions for each candidate.
A panel of the President, the Head of Marketing and Communication and the Chairman of GSNet will interview the short listed candidates.
Successful apprentices are required to attend the President’s address on 1st November 2011 and the first apprentice meeting with the President on the morning of 2nd November