Shini Somara: Why did you choose an engineering apprenticeship over a full-time degree course at university?
Anna Gates: My school was quite keen for me to follow a traditional route towards a university degree and I did study maths, physics, and geography A Levels at school. But I was keen to take a ‘hands-on approach’ to my career, where I could learn about the practical side of engineering, while also obtaining a university degree. I researched doing a civil engineering degree, and during this process found out about degree apprenticeships, which were relatively new at the time. The more I looked into it, the more it appealed to me. I must admit that in applying for this route, I had to get rid of a huge number of stereotypes in my own head about apprenticeships.
Most people think that apprentices are just there to make the tea, but if there is one major lesson I have learned from my apprenticeship experience, it is how to be organised and manage my...