Emily Brown

"I am a 3rd year Civil Engineering apprentice and I work as a Highways Design Technician for AECOM whilst studying my Civil Engineering degree at university.My personality types are...'Campaigner' - I am very organised and I have spreadsheets for everything. I am a good listener and I believe I'm good at 'reading' people which helps me to understand how people work and how I can work with them effectively. This leads well into my next trait...'Communicator' - I am not surprised that I got this trait as it describes me perfectly and not just because I'm an absolute chatterbox. As much as I like to work on my own and enjoy my own company, I pride myself on being a people person and I think having the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with different people of all levels can get you far as it leaves a good first impression and they are likely to want to work with you in the future. Also, if you work as part of a team it is important to be able to get your ideas cross clearly to the rest of your colleagues. Don't be afraid to speak up! 'Trainer' - Again this trait suggests I am organised and I like to make lists, to-do lists and notes to organise myself in both my work and personal life. I love to help others, which is one of the reasons I wanted to share my profile to other young ladies who are thinking about their future and careers. "

"Civil Engineering is the engineering of everything we see around us. Roads and railways, schools, offices, hospitals, water and power supply and much more, they all require civil engineering. My main job role is designing roads and car parks on CAD but I attend client and contractor meetings to discuss and also attend site visits. Projects I work on start as an idea and as a solution to solve a problem, such as a busy main road outside a primary school with no pedestrian crossing. We have meetings to discuss the brief from the client, then I go away and come up with a number of designs. A lot goes into producing the final design, taking into consideration cost, practicality and whether we can actually build it. It is a great feeling when a project you have worked on from the very beginning is built and you can take pride in the fact that something you helped create is making people safer. The starting salary for my role was £16,000 (2018)."

"I have had so many jobs, my first at Home Bargains and I lasted 3 weeks! Whilst I was at college I worked part time at a gym, on the bar at a golf club and I was also a caretaker after hours at a high school. It's safe to say I have done it all. At college I studied a BTEC in Applied Science as I was unsure of the direct route I wanted to go down. I wanted a degree but I knew I didn't want to go to university full time as I clearly had a strong work ethic and couldn't bare to lose my income and give up working. I also knew I didn't want to move away as I am a homebody and love being close to my family. An apprenticeship was the clear route for me as I could continue to work and earn a wage but I could also study for a degree part time. I also needed a job that in which I wasn't going to be sat down all day, and I know that in the Engineering/Construction industry, you are often on site visits therefore it breaks up your day and you get to go out and about looking at exciting projects. "

"Outside of my working hours, I have my own beauty business that I operate from home. I could be on site at 2pm and home doing a treatment on my own client at 6pm! It's essential to have other interests outside of your work and if they can provide you with an extra income then it's a bonus! I love going to the gym as it's a massive stress reliever and makes you feel good. My lifestyle is very busy but personally this works best for me if my days are structured and organised, then I feel super productive.At the weekends you will probably find me out with my friends, I love going out to eat and of course shopping for clothes. I also love going on holiday - my favourite places are Dublin and Santorini. A few places on my bucket list are Australia, Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast."

"When I was in the office full time, I would start at 7am and finish at 3pm. This meant I was home early and I had the rest of my evening to myself and I could be really productive. Now that I am primarily home based except for some days on site or in the office for meetings, I can choose my hours to some degree. I have a good work/life balance and can fit gym classes, appointments and a lunch break around my work.I work on projects so I am often set tasks that will take a few days to complete. I will spend most of my working day completing CAD drawings and producing construction information that will be delivered to workers on site so they know what to build and where. Roads and car parks have standards and specifications so it is important that I consider these standards when I am doing my drawings so when it is built it is usable. I also attend site visits, where I inspect trial pits, gather information from the site and ensure everything is running as planned.I am also involved with the finance and contracts side of projects. By law there are important documents that need to be delivered when you are building something new and I am often responsible for these! It feels good to have some responsibility and it makes you feel like you are making a difference."

"Level 3 Extended Diploma BTEC Applied Science - D*D*DCurrently studying Civil Engineering BEng"