As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we’re proud to highlight the journey of our apprentice, Myles Walker, who is now in his second year of the scheme as a structural technician.
Our journey with Myles so far has been both rewarding and inspiring. It has given us valuable insight into modern apprentice technician training and how it differs from more traditional routes into the profession. The structure and expectations of the programme encourage a dynamic approach, prompting us to regularly evaluate the support we provide and adapt wherever needed to ensure our apprentices can progress in the most meaningful way.
There is always more to learn in our industry. Throughout our careers, we continue to develop and often move towards specialist areas. With Myles, who is now in his second year and due to complete his apprenticeship in 2027, we’ve focused on providing a broad introduction to different sectors and materials. By building strong foundations across a wide range of disciplines, we aim to equip him with the knowledge and confidence to shape his own future path within the profession.
A standout positive of the scheme has been the engagement and support from the college’s apprentice liaison team. Their close collaboration with both Myles and our team has strengthened the overall experience and ensured a joined-up approach to learning and development.
For Myles, the apprenticeship has been defined by hands-on learning and teamwork.
“Throughout this time, I’ve taken part in a wide range of projects where teamwork has been essential,” he explains. “Sitting with different teams, talking through challenges, and observing how others approach problems has helped me develop stronger problem spotting and problem solving skills through real, hands-on experience.”
The exposure to live projects has accelerated both his technical knowledge and his understanding of the software he uses daily. As his confidence grows, so too does his ambition.
“By the end of this year, I hope to contribute more actively to technical discussions around design solutions so I can better support the teams I work with. Being able to contribute meaningfully to project discussions is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Working across varied projects has broadened Myles’ technical understanding, particularly around the products the team frequently works with — including bolts, fixings, metal decking for composite slabs, and steel connections.
Exposure to steel connection and plate design, particularly around edge distances and base plate sizing, has proven especially rewarding. Applying this knowledge in practice has given him a deeper appreciation of efficient design for on-site assembly and sparked a keen interest in exploring steelwork connections further in the future.
Alongside this, Myles has recently begun working with Revit, adding another dimension to his technical development.
“I’m really enjoying Revit,” he says. “It offers a fresh perspective compared to CAD and taps into the same creativity I enjoy when building model kits — especially when creating impressive 3D models.”
While CAD has presented challenges at times due to the complexity and number of elements involved, each new project has helped him build confidence and strengthen his skills. 
National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the commitment, growth and ambition demonstrated by apprentices like Myles. His enthusiasm for learning, willingness to take on new challenges, and drive to contribute more actively to projects reflect exactly what apprenticeship programmes are designed to achieve.
We look forward to continuing to support Myles on his journey — and to seeing where his developing expertise in steel connections, design, and digital modelling will take him next.