Elijah Twiss
Junior engineer, Arcadis
Expertise
Design, ConstructionLocation
United KingdomMy highlights
Exploring the construction and design sides of the industry
Networking and learning from industry professionals
Gaining hands-on experience from the get-go
I chose to do an apprenticeship because...
I wanted to combine the hands-on skills that you get from working in the industry with the academic and technical understanding that a university degree offers.
Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to work closely with professionals within civil engineering.
Theres so much knowledge I’ve gained just from working alongside people with experience.
With so many new opportunities and a landscape that is always changing, civil engineering is anything but boring!
Which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer or technician?
My dad and grandad, who are civil engineers!
They have given me a unique perspective on the world of infrastructure.
Growing up around their passion for engineering has allowed me to appreciate the dedication and innovation needed for the job.
We asked Elijah…
What about being a civil engineer apprentice gets you out of bed each morning?
Working on a new problem! So much changes every day, and there’s always a new skill to learn or challenge to tackle.
Variety is the spice of life and working with a great team on a good engineering challenge just can’t be beaten.
Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?
The Queensway Tunnel in Liverpool. It was a landmark tunnel in 1925, the first one under the Mersey River.
Its technical features and art deco architecture really appeal to me.
Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.
I think civil engineering sometimes gets branded as boring but that’s a myth.
There are so many disciplines within that umbrella that all work in different ways to form part of a larger project.
For every highway project there’s structures, geotechnics, drainage design, etc.
With so many new opportunities and a landscape that is always changing, civil engineering is anything but boring!
What does / will EngTech MICE / IEng MICE status mean for your career?
Achieving Engineering Technician (EngTech) status was a milestone for me.
It proves that from a professional standpoint, I have the knowledge required.
It’s the first step towards chartership and an opportunity to understand the process for the end point assessment of my apprenticeship.
