Balfour Beatty offers a wide variety of opportunities within its Apprenticeship Scheme ranging from intermediate, to advanced, to higher level qualifications. These are suitable for school leavers and post-A-level students who want to learn and earn on a structured training scheme and gain a nationally recognised qualification. Balfour Beatty Apprentices have the opportunity to continue their studies to gain a Foundation or Honours Degree. The company employs over 300 apprentices across the UK and recruits around 150 additional apprentices each year.
Bethany’s journey
Bethany knew that university wasn’t the route for her, particularly given the large debts that students graduate with.
She had always preferred Maths over English, but had not considered a career in construction as her future career until her school careers advisor suggested she take a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) test and contact Skills Development Scotland for advice.
The results of the test indicated that she was at technician level, which gave Bethany the confidence to explore the industry in more depth and apply for an apprenticeship with Balfour Beatty, where she was offered a position.
While working in the north of Scotland, Bethany has had the chance to experience a variety of exciting major infrastructure projects, including the Inveramsay Bridge outside Inverurie. She has also gained experience on bases as a contractor for the RAF and worked on nuclear plant, besides joining smaller projects such as a local authority flood protection scheme.
Bethany particularly enjoys the mix of learning theory at Inverness College UHI and hands on skills in her workplace. She has even run her own concrete-pouring operation – not something that many 20-year-olds can claim to have achieved.
“I feel my apprenticeship has given me a starting point which will help me through my journey for a lifetime. It’s given me such confidence.”
