Meet rising star apprentice, Jayden Evans!

Jayden is currently undertaking an apprenticeship in Health and Safety with Ferrovial as part of Heathrow’s Shared Apprenticeship Scheme, which is managed by the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy and delivered by our partner K10 Apprenticeships Limited . K10 and Ferrovial have been supporting Jayden to develop his career through this apprenticeship opportunity and in a subject of critical importance to the airport. Since joining the scheme, Jayden has demonstrated great growth and potential! ??

To find out a bit more about his experience, we recently caught up with Jayden. Read on to see how Heathrow’s Shared Apprenticeship Scheme is helping to shape the future one apprentice at a time!?

What made you want to do an apprenticeship??

'I wanted to be an apprentice as you learn ‘on the job’ which I think is the most efficient way of learning. You can ask questions every day to colleagues who have years of experience…this is an invaluable learning experience that you can’t get in a classroom.’?

How did you come across this opportunity??

‘After struggling to find an apprenticeship, Hillingdon Carers Trust helped me to find suitable opportunities, which is how I came across the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy. ?That’s where I learned about their shared apprenticeship scheme with supply chain partners. ?After sending my CV, I received a call from K10, delivery partners for the scheme, who discussed the apprenticeship options that they had available. I chose to purse an apprenticeship in Health and Safety as I had learnt a lot about Health and Safety while studying engineering at Sixth Form and found it was an area that I was good and enjoyed. Health and Safety is also one of Heathrow’s six values so I knew I would be adding value through my apprenticeship.' ?

What did you think of the interview process??

'The interview process was well put together and suitable for young people. The K10 team were very welcoming, and the interviews were based on personality and attitude rather than only focusing on qualifications or experience. I think this is important as many apprentices are young and have little experience which can make interviews very intimidating.’?

?What do you do in your day-to-day role as a Construction Health and Safety Apprentice??

?‘My role is split in two. One part involves being a Health and Safety (H&S) Administrator, where I manage H&S documents involved in all construction processes. This includes logging site inspections, processing inductions and tending to any formal complaints regarding H&S. All the H&S information and documents must be easily accessible and tracked so there are a lot of spreadsheets!'

'The second part of my role is spent as a Trainee H&S Advisor. This mainly consists of practical learning, going out on sites such as the H7 project, while shadowing a H&S Advisor. This is where I’d say I do the most learning as there is a lot to learn! Different work sites have different H&S concerns, and the advisors always point out small details for me to look out for, which is very useful. I’m also able to assist in the completion of site inspections, make observations and gain valuable feedback on H&S from colleagues on site.’?

?How do you balance working and studying at the same time???

‘As my college is virtual, it’s much easier to keep up to date with my learning and I can work at my own pace. As you can imagine this makes balancing the work much easier.? I usually take a day out of the week to focus on study, but it’s quite flexible.’?

What are your plans for when you finish your apprenticeship???

‘I intend to become a fully qualified H&S Advisor in the future. Like many other apprentices, I would love to continue with my current contractor and learn more so that I can reach my full potential.’?

Is there anything that you have found challenging during your apprenticeship??

‘There are some challenges that can be expected when doing an apprenticeship, but the important thing is making sure to keep ask questions and learn. As a part of the H&S team at Ferrovial, I’m very fortunate to have many people with different backgrounds and experiences that I can learn and seek advice from'.??

'I also feel reassured that if there was a problem, I could talk to my apprentice manager immediately. This is something that’s unique with K10, as they are separate to your contractor. There is a constant feeling that K10 have your back and can help you through challenges.’?

What advice would you give to someone who is considering an apprenticeship but is not sure??

‘My apprenticeship experience has been very positive so far. I feel fortunate that a lot of aspects for my apprenticeship have worked out for me. For example, the fact that I am local to Heathrow makes commuting to work simple, my studies being online has a lot of benefits compared to other apprentices, and I am also solely based at Heathrow and do not need to travel to various locations.'

'My advice would be to seek advice from an apprentice in your desired field and try to get a good insight of the day-to-day. Pay attention to all the small details and see if it suits you. I also think it’s important as an apprentice to ask questions during your interviews, get an idea of the work environment and how you will fit in.’?

What has your experience with K-10 at the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy been like???

‘From my experience, going through K10 has probably been like most other apprenticeships, but the key difference is the support, assistance, and advice that you get from them. You really feel that they are on your side and make you feel a lot more comfortable in the workplace. For example, they continually ensure that I am treated fairly at work and always check if I have any personal issues going on. I have regular catch ups with K10 to discuss my progress and can also call or text for support whenever I need to.’?

If Jayden’s experiences resonate with you and you would like to find out about the apprenticeship opportunities available, please email: [email protected] or the K10 team directly at: [email protected].? We would also like to take this opportunity to say a special shout-out to Hillingdon Carers Trust, who are able to support Jayden in his personal life, as well as with career opportunities. For more information, please visit Carers Trust Hillingdon.??