⸺ Apprentice Structural Engineer
Immediately available opportunity at J&D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd. (abbreviated JDP). Get paid for gaining a degree apprenticeship qualification with on-the-job mentoring and learning with a leading steelwork ‘design & build’ fabricator.
As an Apprentice Structural Engineer, you shall study Civil Engineering (Environmental Civil Engineering) BSc (Hons) undergraduate degree on a day release program with Glasgow Caledonian University. This is a progressive role that will develop as your apprenticeship moves through the academic course.
As you gain more competency skills, knowledge and experience through your day job and study, you will begin to hone your skills and learn how to engineer your own contribution to projects under the direction and support of our qualified and experienced Structural Engineers.
As an apprentice with J&D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd. (abbreviated JDP), you shall be afforded the opportunity to experience the route-map from the inception of the design, through the commercial and logistical phases to the fabrication and erection of scheme.
- Working as a member of a team
- Document management and supporting the administration of projects
- Working primarily in an office environment but with on-site access to our production facility
- Developing competency in design software and applying this to engineering solutions
- Preparation of calculations & specifications
- Liaising with the wider team, be our internal departments or the project design team and clients
- Contributing to problem solving and value engineered solutions
- Ensuring deliverables meet the required standards
Our apprenticeship programme at JDP will provide you with the foundations to independently maximise your full potential.
- Reliability, pragmatic, self-motivated and an avid team player with strong communication skills.
- An inclusive attitude and a commitment to skills development with the drive to keep learning.
- An abundance of self-initiative.
- A lateral thinker who can apply sound reasoning and logic to solve problems, and who is can think on their feet to direct their decisions.
Designing reality in a respected and rewarding profession with good earning potential.
You can learn more at the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) website: Click Here
Structural Engineering is a specialism of Civil Engineering focusing on Buildings in the built environment. As a Structural Engineer with JDP, you shall apply a lot of the civil engineering attributes to a specialist career in the design and detailing of structural steelwork structures, including buildings and bridges.
Please Click Here for an overview of the GCU apprenticeship.
Our offer of a degree apprenticeship is a direct, fully funded pathway to professional qualification, combining undergraduate education with on the job training and contribution to real-life projects. As an apprentice engineer, you shall graduate from our scheme with both the theoretical knowledge and practical industry experience necessary to become a stand-out and respected engineering specialist.
The apprenticeship will run over a five-year period in which you will undertake a supervised programme of work-based training and university study on a day release program which itself shall be over the first four years. Your study will be towards a Civil Engineering BSc (Hons), with your last year focused on professional development suitable to attaining professional membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).
These are additional to the University Programme Syllabus which can be found by reference to the GCU website.
- Years 1 and 2 will be work-based learning modules.
- You shall continuously report on the work you undertake in the workplace.
- Year 3 shall be The Engineer in Business where you shall work as part of a group to run a business for a year.
- Your final year shall be a project working on something that’s either critical or beneficial to our business.
Upon successful completion of your degree and the end-point assessment, you will have met the requirements needed to reach Incorporated Engineer status with the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). This is an affiliated institution to the IStructE. The challenge then is reflecting on your work-based skills attainment to secure entry to the membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers. You shall be afforded our full support in your drive beyond Technical Membership of the Institution to become a Chartered Member through the Engineering Council.
After the apprenticeship, we expect you to continue to grow your career with us as there need be no limit to your ambitions or skillset.
- A commuting time of more than one hour is not considered as a healthy work/life balance and candidate selection may be vetted accordingly.
- This is primarily an office-based role working at a desk using a computer for most of the day.
- You shall be afforded the opportunity to experience the factory and sites. A Construction Skills certification Scheme (CSCS) test will be necessary if your application proves successful.
You shall attend university as an ambassador for J&D Pierce and with a supporting letter as part of your admissions process.
Your Learning Provider is currently outlined as Glasgow Caledonian University but please note that this could be subject to change depending on availability at application.
- Minimum of four Highers.
- Must include Maths, Physics, Technological Studies or Engineering Science at grade B or better.
- One Higher must be achieved at A grade.
- Have full eligibility to work in the UK.
- Who have just finished Higher’s, or BTEC equivalent.
- Demonstrate proficiency in both written and verbal communication.
Salary shall be paid at an apprenticeship rate commensurate with our existing business model to be advised upon your invite to interview.
Working within our design team producing design models, calculations and associated technical report documentation.
Supervising design drawing production and other project related design deliverables.
Liaise closely with the drawing office, manufacturing and construction.
Ensuring that work complies to all necessary departmental and legislative requirements and procedures, to guarantee that consistency and quality of deliverables is maintained.
Coordinate, collaborate and resolve design in conjunction with the Client teams representatives.
Inputting into potential innovation to existing methods and techniques to aid both cost reductions and improved performance in assigned work areas.
Note that strong candidates shall show a particular interest in the following:
3D structural modelling with FEA software; ROBOT, Masterseries & TSD.
Construction engineering; build sequence analysis & temporary works.
Simple and complex connection design.
CEng accredited MSc in Civil/Structural Engineering.
Highly motivated with excellent communication skills.
Ability to perform with continuous attention to detail.
Able to work and collaborate in a team environment.
Must have the right to work in the UK.
Informal but structured training program aimed at progressing to CEng level.
Technical and personal development, learning from experienced chartered engineers and industry professionals.
A focus on “How to Build” structures and its influence on design; a skillset significantly waning in the industry amongst the structural engineering profession.
Graduate exchange programme through partnership with established multi-disciplinary consulting engineers.
Compressed working week Mon-Thurs (8am-5.30pm) with early Friday finish (8am-1.30pm).
Salary competitive with other industry Graduate positions.
A comprehensive modern benefits package, including health benefits, shopping discounts, cycle to work scheme, generous scaling pension scheme, Death in Service, company awards ceremony, modern facilities, and regular team building.
⸺ How To Apply
The intake for the 2025 Apprenticeship is now pressing with the University having confirmed that courses are definitely running from the beginning of October’25.
We are a lean but effective business originating in North Ayrshire and this year we celebrate 50 years. All applicants shall be fielded direct by our Design Department who shall draw down a short-list, within a target closing date of close-of-business Thursday 31st July 2025.
Interviews shall start during the week commencing 18th August with all written correspondence ex-changed via email.
Candidates should submit a detailed CV for the attention of Stephen Curran.
Contact our Training Administrator to Head of Skills Development, Stephen Curran at [email protected]
Telephone: 01505 683724