Katy Fletcher, civil engineering apprentice

Katy left sixth form in summer 2016 with the intention of going to University to study English Literature and Journalism. 

 After achieving her A Level results Katy decided to look at Apprenticeships as an alternative to going to University and came across an Apprentice role in Civil Engineering on the M6 Smart Motorways Programme. After researching the different roles available within Construction and Engineering and the focus on bringing more females into the industry Katy decided that this was a career that she wanted to pursue.

Katy joined in September 2016 as a Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprentice employed by Kier. Whilst she has been on the Project she has rotated around various departments such as Engineering, Commercial and Planning to learn about the different departments that come together to deliver a construction project. Katy has continued to reach the personal learning goals defined in the apprenticeship programme and she has consistently exceeded these targets and produced work ahead of time.

As well as her day-to-day role within the various departments as an Apprentice, Katy has also been actively getting involved in extra-curricular activities on and off the Project. In June 2017 Katy co-ordinated a climb of Snowdon in partnership with St Luke’s Hospice and with her creative thinking and persistence she organised fundraising activities that eventually raised over £2,000 for this worthy charity. Katy also partnered with another apprentice to work with the Prince’s Trust 12 week team programme to help create a memorial garden at a local primary school in memory of a pupil who sadly died in a house fire.

Katy has also been involved in various inspiring a generation events since joining Kier in September 2016. In July 2017 Katy attended the Big Bang STEM Event in Liverpool with the  team and our subcontractors to help host the “Construction Corner” and showcase our industry and STEM activities. In July 2017 they also attended the Primary College event at South Cheshire College in Crewe. This event brings together over 1,000 primary school children from years five and six from the South Cheshire area for the opportunity for them to participate in a choice of over 30 interactive activities delivered by local organisations and Katy joined some of the other staff to deliver some interactive Civil Engineering activities to over 80 children over two days.

Before coming to the Project Katy had little knowledge of construction and engineering and she is very much looking forward to completing her apprenticeship and furthering her education and career within the construction environment and with Kier. In addition to this, Katy is a great advocate for new apprentices looking at entering the industry and also the promotion of females in construction. Katy loves to share her own journey and experiences with other aspiring apprentices and she is now also a STEM Ambassador and a Kier Ambassador following the Shaping Your World campaign.