Emily Cole is in the final year of her five-year Civil Engineer apprenticeship and works for Jackson Civil Engineering.
Emily has recently been named Best Newly Registered Engineering Technician (EngTech) 2025 awarded by the Women’s Engineering Society. This award recognises the Emily’s excellence and potential in the practice of engineering. Emily has been actively raising the profile of young women in Engineering throughout her apprenticeship, sharing her experiences and supporting others interested in a similar career path.
In additional in 2024 Emily was named the Most Promising Apprentice (Level 4-7) at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Southern Annual Awards ceremony in London. Emily received the accolade for her exceptional performance and career progression since joining Jackson Civil Engineering in September 2021.
We caught up with Emily and asked about her apprenticeship journey.
Apprenticeships are hard work and require dedication. You started your apprenticeship when you completed A-Levels. How did you find starting work and university, and what motivated you to do an apprenticeship rather than a full-time university course?
Apprenticeships are definitely hard work. I think people underestimate how much time university requires whilst still working full time and progressing your career. That being said, I believe it is the most beneficial way to learn within the construction industry. Each and every company, site and role does things in different ways and there is no way of you experiencing that just going to university. I began my apprenticeship in September after finishing my A-Levels in June because I never really wanted to study full time, I wanted to get out and experience the world of work in the hopes it would help me find exactly what I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to, and it has done exactly that. Starting university and work within a month of each other was a massive change and was challenging to begin with, but I’m sure I’ll be complaining when I go to a full 5 days of working! University is a necessity for a lot of jobs, however I feel that gaining the experience and doing the job first hand is the best way to learn in construction, with a supportive team around you to help you progress through both work and the course.
You recently received an award ‘Best Newly Registered Engineering Technician’ from the Women’s Engineering Society. Congratulations! Civil engineering is traditionally thought of as a male dominated environment, how is civil engineering changing? What is your advice to aspiring female civil engineer apprentices and students?
While civil engineering has historically been a male-dominated profession, it is clearly undergoing a period of significant and necessary change. Greater female representation, improving workplace cultures, and a broader understanding of what it means to be a successful engineer are reshaping the industry into one that values professionalism, collaboration, and diverse skill sets alongside technical expertise. At the same time, aspiring female apprentices and students are increasingly supported by visible role models, stronger inclusion initiatives, and evolving career pathways that recognise different strengths and leadership styles. Although there are many challenges that still remain, the direction this is all going is positive. By encouraging confidence, providing access to mentorship and practical experience, and continuing to challenge outdated stereotypes, civil engineering can better reflect the society it serves and build a more resilient, innovative, and inclusive profession for the future of young engineer, in particular young women.
What are your future career plans when you complete the apprenticeship?
I am planning to travel once I am qualified to gain experience of the construction industry in other countries. When I return to the UK I would like to continue my career with Jackson Civil Engineering by progressing through the engineering ladder and eventually becoming a Chartered Engineer.
What do you consider to be the positives and the challenges of an apprenticeship?
Positives: Gaining experience alongside the qualification. Earning a salary. Networking and developing professional relationships in the sector. Meeting other apprentices. Experiencing a wide range of working projects over the 5 years. No university fees or maintenance loans.
Challenges: Studying whilst working a 47.5-hour week each week can be difficult, university workload (mainly in final year) whilst gaining more workload and responsibility in the workplace can get overwhelming. Challenges with timetabling and ensuring the course content is adjusted to the needs of the apprentices to ensure readiness for exams and assessments. Five years is a long time to commit to a course of study tied to one job.
To find out more about our Civil Engineering apprenticeship visit our website Higher and degree apprenticeships
