Apprenticeship - Civil Engineer Technician Apprentice

How You'll Make a Difference

As a Civil Engineer Technician Apprentice, you will play a key role in supporting the £9 million annual highway maintenance Capital programme.

Working alongside our experienced highway maintenance engineers, you will gain the opportunity to develop a wide-ranging skill set, that will greatly increase your value to potential employers. Your contribution will be vital in ensuring that the Council’s roads and drainage infrastructure are kept in a serviceable condition for use by the public and business alike.

This is an exciting opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of highway maintenance. This will involve both technical and practical on-the-job learning, with the constant support of a professional team of highly skilled engineers.

What You Will Be Doing

• Working closely with qualified engineers, you will develop proficiency in AutoCAD and produce a wide range of scheme drawings. This highly transferable skill will open opportunities across a variety of future workplace settings.
• You will gain experience in preparing bills of quantities and scheme estimates, both essential skills for effective financial and budget management.
• It will be key for you to develop a strong understanding of the council’s Geographic Information System (GIS), including its database and mapping systems.
• Gaining hands-on experience undertaking survey work, you will use both traditional and modern techniques.
• You will be involved in carriageway surfacing operations, observing the use of specialist equipment and heavy plant and gaining insight into their functions and applications.
• Another aspect of your role will be supporting the design, maintenance and improvement of drainage systems.
  
  

What We Need From You

• You will ideally hold a minimum of GCSE A*-C/4-9 or an equivalent qualification in English and maths.

It is essential that you have the drive and willingness to learn new things and be committed to gaining your qualification.

You should have a general interest in civil engineering and how this is applied in the field of highway maintenance.

You must meet the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) eligibility requirements. These include:

• be aged 16 years or over
• be an EEA citizen (with Right to Work in the UK) and not be in any other kind of full-time education (including being enrolled on any other apprenticeship programme).
  

What You Need To Know

Face to face Interviews will be held on 12th and 13th August 2026.

All candidates that successfully reach the interview stages will be required to provide a 10-minute presentation as part of the recruitment process. Candidates who do not provide a presentation at interview will not progress through the recruitment process.

Throughout your 3-year apprenticeship, you will be assigned a workplace mentor who will provide guidance and support as you work towards completing your Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship. As part of the programme, you will attend Weston College, South West Skills Campus (BS22 8NL) 1 day per week during term time to undertake your off-the-job training and study.

This is a 36-month limited term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship programme.

You will be required to work from our Broad Lane office or other locations, including attending Weston College, for a minimum of 3 days per week.

As part of this training route, you will need to undertake a basic skills assessment as part of the selection process. These will be emailed to you by the training provider, Weston College.

The salary for this apprenticeship is set at the current National Minimum Wage:

Age

Hourly rate

Annual salary

21 +

£12.71

£24,454

18 - 20

£10.85

£20,875

16-17

£8.00

£15,392

The apprenticeship starts on 6th October 2026. Therefore, we will require for the successful person to start employment with us during September 2026.

How a Career At South Gloucestershire Council Is Different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. 
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
  
  

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
  
  

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Apprenticeship - Civil Engineer Technician Apprentice JD 2026

Useful Link: Civil engineering technician / Skills England