Kieran Patrick: Passionate Civil Engineer

My highlights

Working on the SMDF Anglia Framework, Slipping Structures project.

Becoming inspired to follow civil engineering as a career by my school teacher

Being able to implement sustainability concerns into my projects

How I became a civil engineer

My love of engineering came from having an extremely imaginative engineering teacher back when I was at school. A project highlight of this was designing and then manufacturing a sustainable wooden 'Can Crusher' both manual and electrical. This particular project concreted my thought process into always relating what I do with sustainability.

As part of my placement during my civil engineering degree at Warwick University, I was placed on the SMDF Anglia Framework, SSV Residual Works & CP5/CP6 OLE Slipping Structures. The involvement in this project would allow me to stand by my moral compass of sustainability as the team I am working with would progressively work under strict guidelines ensuring as little harm to the environment as possible whilst also maintaining an efficient work ethic.

There is a huge variety of work for me to get involved with. I complete multiple different tasks which feed in to much bigger projects and it’s great to see how it all fits together.

A day in my life

There is a huge variety of work for me to get involved with. I complete multiple different tasks which feed in to much bigger projects and it’s great to see how it all fits together.

We asked Kieran…

why you choose to do an apprenticeship?

It's the best opportunity to gain experience and get a degree at the same time. It means that I don’t have to pay any fees, and have a big support network and mentor who help me through both work and my studies. Working on a railway, it’s really cool to see how it all works. I also really enjoy the client facing aspect of it.

what’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

The potential to work on so many different projects and structures and seeing the variety of work that is available.

which individual project or person inspired you to become a civil engineer?

I geared up as much of my time at school as possible to be focused on engineering, I was lucky enough to have very supportive teachers who pointed me in the right direction and I headed to college to undertake an engineering course which is where I heard about the degree apprenticeship.

which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?

Working on the Channel Tunnel would have been absolutely amazing! Being able to say that you worked on one of the ‘Seven modern wonders of the civil engineering world’ would be pretty cool.

what about being a civil engineer inspires you?

The ability to learn new skills each day and continue to develop and learn. It’s really motivating knowing that what I do is helping to get me to towards my IEng.

what would you say to anyone considering a civil engineering apprenticeship?

Absolutely go for it! Don’t do just the degree. No two days are ever the same so you definitely won’t get bored!