Civil Engineer Degree Apprentice
Bristol City Council
Bristol (BS1 6HT)
Closes in 9 days (Monday 25 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Join our Highways and Traffic team and train as a Civil Engineer while studying for a degree at UWE. You’ll support the design, maintenance and improvement of Bristol’s transport, highways and drainage infrastructure, working on real projects across the city. Strong problem-solving skills and interest required.
- Wage
-
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Pay will be reviewed annually in line with National Joint Council (NJC) Local Government pay awards and Bristol City Council’s apprentice pay policies.
- Training course
- Civil engineer (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday.
This role involves a blend of office-based and site-based working, with day release to attend university. Some travel across Bristol will be required.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
5 years 8 months
- Positions available
-
4
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience
- You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff
- Carry out surveys and site inspections on highways and transport projects, gathering data to inform designs and decisions
- Produce technical drawings and digital models (e.g., CAD) to support civil engineering designs
- Assist in preparing reports, calculations and other documents for projects such as road improvements, drainage schemes, or new cycle routes
- Support the planning and delivery of construction projects by coordinating with contractors and checking work on site
- Work with experienced engineers to solve engineering challenges and improve infrastructure across the city
- Rotate through different project areas (e.g., highways design, traffic management, drainage, and structures) to gain broad experience
- Learn and follow health and safety procedures at all times, especially during site work
- Attend all apprenticeship training sessions and apply new knowledge in your day-to-day work
- Take on more responsibility as your skills and confidence grow, with guidance from your manager and mentor
Where you'll work
100 Temple Street
Bristol
BS1 6HT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
Training course
Civil engineer (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply engineering principles to solve engineering problems: scientific, theoretical and technical principles.
- Apply civil engineering techniques, procedures and methods, and review and evaluate the results, including measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, constructing, maintaining or operating civil engineering components and systems; consider how continuous improvement can contribute to improved performance.
- Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
- Identify, interpret and compare information to select materials, components or parts used in civil engineering.
- Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate civil engineering problems.
- Produce civil engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
- Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model civil engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
- Contribute to the design, development and implementation of civil engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
- Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of civil engineering solutions.
- Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
- Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against civil engineering project performance criteria.
- Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
- Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
- Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
- Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
- Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
- Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
- Apply ethical principles, identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
- Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
- Apply engineering principles to solve engineering problems: scientific, theoretical and technical principles.
- Apply civil engineering techniques, procedures and methods, and review and evaluate the results, including measuring and testing, designing, installing, commissioning, constructing, maintaining or operating civil engineering components and systems; consider how continuous improvement can contribute to improved performance.
- Employ mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods, and apply an integrated or systems-based approach.
- Identify, interpret and compare information to select materials, components or parts used in civil engineering.
- Research, collect, select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of data and information to address, analyse and evaluate civil engineering problems.
- Produce civil engineering technical solutions in accordance with relevant industry standards, policies, codes of practice, regulations, and legislation.
- Select and apply computational and analytical techniques to model civil engineering problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed.
- Contribute to the design, development and implementation of civil engineering solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness in the context of the whole project life cycle.
- Manage and comply with statutory health, safety and welfare policies, procedures and regulation, and contribute to improvements in health, safety and welfare, within their own area of responsibility.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate, manage and mitigate risks.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and evaluate their effectiveness on the whole project lifecycle of civil engineering solutions.
- Manage engineering activities that contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
- Apply project management techniques, identifying, measuring, recording and reporting progress against civil engineering project performance criteria.
- Manage quality processes and contribute to quality improvements.
- Plans and manages resources, equipment and technology, to meet project requirements, specifications, costs and budgets and timescales, with an appreciation of statutory and commercial arrangements.
- Monitor and manage individual performance, and the input of others, recognising the need to adapt to, and communicate, changing demands.
- Comply with appropriate codes of practice and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) requirements.
- Communicate in verbal and written contexts using appropriate methods for the audience. Use appropriate engineering terminology and conventions.
- Apply teamwork and collaboration principles.
- Apply ethical principles, identifying and analysing ethical concerns and making reasoned ethical choices.
- Plan, undertake and review their own professional competence, regularly updating, recording and reviewing their continuing professional development (CPD).
Training schedule
Training will be delivered through a mix of on‑the‑job learning within Bristol City Council’s Highways and Traffic service and off‑the‑job study with the University of the West of England
Where training will take place:
- On the job - Working at 100 Temple Street and on sites around Bristol, you’ll apply your learning by contributing to civil engineering projects across the city
- Off the job – Attending UWE (in Bristol) on a day-release basis, typically one day per week during term time, for lectures, labs and tutorials as part of the Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
How often training will be:
- UWE teaching usually takes place one day per week in term time. On-the-job training and supervised project work happen throughout your working week. You’ll also have regular progress reviews (usually monthly) with your manager and training provider to ensure you’re on track
- Apprentices are expected to attend all scheduled classes, meet assignment deadlines and actively apply their university learning in the workplace
More training information
- The Level 6 Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with UWE, an accredited provider for engineering degrees
- The programme combines academic study with practical experience. You will work towards a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, gaining essential knowledge in areas like structural design, geotechnics, fluid mechanics, and project management. The day-release format allows you to immediately put theory into practice on real council projects, with support from experienced engineers and academic tutors
- Throughout the five-and-a-half year programme (including an end-point assessment period), your development will be monitored through regular reviews
- This structured approach ensures you build the competence and confidence needed to successfully complete the apprenticeship and achieve your degree
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- GCSE English (grade Grade 4/C or above)
- Maths (grade Grade 4/C or above)
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
Willingness to travel across Bristol for site visits. Ability to work safely and follow council policies and codes of conduct. Must attend all apprenticeship training and complete mandatory internal training. Commitment to ongoing professional development. Flexible and able to adapt to a changing work environment, with the ability to work independently when required.
About this employer
Bristol City Council is committed to equality and diversity, as both a provider of services to the community and to our employees. Our practices and procedures aim to reflect the varied needs, expectations and culture of all members of our community and our workforce. Please note that if you were to be invited to interview, you will be asked a question on equal opportunities.
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Flexible working, flexitime, LGPS pension, generous annual leave, and a supportive workplace helping you develop and contribute to Bristol.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- On completion of the apprenticeship and degree, you’ll be ready to progress into a qualified Civil Engineer role (e.g. Graduate or Assistant Engineer), subject to vacancies and performance
- The BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree from UWE is accredited, meaning you will have satisfied the requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the relevant professional institution. The experience you gain also provides an excellent foundation to pursue Chartered Engineer (CEng) status in the future with further experience and professional development
- Overall, this apprenticeship opens the door to a wide range of civil engineering career paths within the council and the broader industry
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Bristol City Council
Bristol Apprenticeship Team
bristol.apprentices@bristol.gov.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000031681.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Monday 25 May 2026 at 11:59pm)