A coffee with... Euan and Nathan and as they celebrate their recent graduation
Article posted on: 28 July 2022
Our 'A coffee with...' series takes a glimpse into the thoughts and opinions of our colleagues.
For this edition, we caught up with Euan McLaughlin and Nathan Ayree as they both graduated with a first class honours!
Nathan - six years ago you started your journey as a Civil Engineering Apprentice. Tell us more about your journey, including your highlight and greatest challenge?
It has been a crazy six years that have genuinely flown by in a flash. From leaving school and entering a whole new idea of working nine-to-five everyday was a shock to the system but something that has seen me thrive. There have been many highlights from witnessing housing developments turn from drawings on a piece of paper into a fully functioning estate. However, it has not been easy. Studying at university alongside working full-time was a struggle and finding a balance between all my incoming workloads proved to be a real challenge, but it is one that I thrived on, and I can now fully implement the knowledge I gained at university into my developing career.
Euan - you’ve completed your degree whilst working full time. How have you found this? How have you overcome any challenges you may have faced?
Working full-time whilst completing my degree was definitely one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. At times it felt very overwhelming and stressful given the amount of university deadlines coupled up with work deadlines. However, most challenges were easy to overcome once I had sat down, planned, and got stuck into the work. One of the most helpful factors was that I was always given help and time to complete my university work when it was really needed.
Looking back after completing my degree, it feels great to have put in so much hard work and finally get the rewards. From starting my journey at Glasgow Kelvin College in 2016 to completing my degree in 2022, it feels like time has flown by.
Both - what is the best piece of advice you would give to new starters at the beginning of their apprenticeship? Also, anyone who may be considering an apprenticeship?
Nathan: It sounds very stereotypical but just stick in. University may seem like the only logistical route when leaving school, however it is not. An apprenticeship in engineering gives you that exposure to real life scenarios that you will only encounter on the job. The apprenticeship route also helps build that base knowledge which is critical for university studies should you choose to study on a part-time basis – and all while earning real money and not collecting a university debt.
Euan: The best piece of advice that I can offer is to just go for it and enjoy it! However, you also have to be prepared to put in the hard work, but the overall journey is a great experience and the pay-off at the end is all worth it.
I’d say an apprenticeship is definitely one of the best routes to go down after leaving school. The apprenticeship route allows you to have a job, gain a great education, make money, all while collecting no student debt. Another major plus is the experience that you gain from working daily in a work environment. This will help massively when you begin your studies as you have that base knowledge already. Overall, I would 100% recommend an apprenticeship to anyone considering it.
Both - what’s next for you?
Nathan: Gaining my degree is just the start of my journey. I am aiming to thrive in my role at Clancy and with Clancy kindly supporting professional memberships and institutions, next on my agenda is to gain a professional qualified status with the ICE. I currently have my EngTech qualification with the ICE, but now that I have my BSc degree, I am aiming for the Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status. Continually aiming to develop my knowledge.
Euan: My aims for now are to continue to work hard, contribute and flourish while working at Clancy. My aim for the near future is to hopefully gain some professional accreditation with ICE.
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