Michael Langan: How a Degree Apprenticeship kick-started my career

Michael Langan from our Glasgow Structures team has completed his Degree Apprenticeship and will be graduating from the University of Strathclyde with a 2:1 BEng in Civil Engineering.

As Waterman’s first graduate from a Degree Apprenticeship in Scotland, we caught up with him to find out more about his learning journey and discover what drove him to pursue a career in engineering.

I was first introduced to the world of engineering when I joined the Waterman team for a week’s work experience in 2017. I was in my third year of high school and wanted to learn more about a career in this field, since I enjoyed subjects like maths, physics, design and manufacture.

After finishing school, initially I applied for some full-time university courses, but was soon in discussion with Waterman about the opportunity to undertake a Degree Apprenticeship, and I decided this was the best option for me. My sister was already doing a Degree Apprenticeship in a different field, which she loved, and I could really see the benefits of it. I liked the idea of gaining work experience whilst studying, and I felt it was important to get my foot in the door as early as possible.

In August 2019 I started in the office and I remember my first day so clearly. I was very nervous as I knew there would be a lot more expectation than when I was there for work experience. I soon realised that there was nothing to be nervous about, everyone was so welcoming, and I settled in really fast.

A month later, I started at university. It was very different to a school environment, but it was great to be with a group of people all with the same passion and eagerness to learn.

Throughout my four-year course, I attended classes one day a week on campus, with the rest of my working week being spent assisting the Glasgow team with real-life projects. Juggling working in a fast-paced environment with part-time studying was challenging, but I learnt how to manage my time well. Being able to apply what I learnt at university directly into the workplace, and vice versa, definitely accelerated my growth as a young engineer.

My course was really varied with modules including geotechnical engineering, transport engineering and water engineering, but my favourite topic was structural engineering. I enjoyed this as it was the most relatable to my day-to-day work and allowed me to see the theory behind our projects back in the office. Throughout my degree, assessments were a mixture of coursework and exams. I much preferred coursework as exams were always very stressful, although I got there in the end!

Back in the office, I worked on several exciting schemes across Scotland, which I would not have had the opportunity to do with a typical degree course. One of my favourite projects was the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, and I was lucky enough to be involved from the early design stages all the way through to completion earlier this year. It was great to have the support and guidance of my colleagues with my studies and coursework; some of my friends who are doing a typical full-time degree do not have this opportunity, so I felt very lucky.

Looking to the future, I am currently working towards becoming an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the Institution of Civil Engineers and after that I’m targeting Chartered Engineer status. ?

My Degree Apprenticeship has definitely helped me develop in my career and progress quicker than I could otherwise have expected to. I am so glad I made this career choice, and I am looking forward to celebrating with my friends and family at my graduation ceremony in October!?

For more information about our award-winning Apprenticeship programme and to discover our latest Apprenticeship vacancies, click here .?