Training & Development.

Degree Apprenticeships

Training apprentice structural and civil engineers has been the key to our success over many years. We have an active programme across all our offices providing sound foundations for our growth and succession planning. This has been an integral part of our ethos and we now have engineers in senior roles and one just promoted to Partner who started with us as apprentice school leavers.

We work closely with local schools to promote engineering as a profession and recruit talented students to join us. We attend careers fairs and our current apprentices give presentations to interested groups of students at the schools.

We have strong relationships with the University of West London and the University of the West of England where our apprentices study for their degrees one day per week. When not at university they work alongside their mentors in the office learning on the job. After four or five years, they have achieve a BEng with no need to take on a student loan.

Louis Le Bellego, Degree Apprentice Civil Engineer in our Henley office

"I’ve always been interested in engineering, so this was just the right opportunity. I go to UWL in Ealing one day a week and for the other 4 days I work in the office assisting the engineers on various projects. And I earn a salary!

After 4 years I’ll have a BEng and loads of valuable work experience, so I’ll be in a great position for my career to really take off. And with no student debt.

I get plenty of support in the office from my mentor, Phil, who also did a degree apprenticeship, so he knows exactly the sort of advice and guidance I need to succeed."

Graduate Training Programme

We are immensely proud of our graduate training programme which is an integral part of our strategy for staff development and promoting from within.

We operate an accredited ICE training scheme providing graduates and degree apprentices with a clear path to professional engineering qualifications. Supervising Civil Engineers, Delegated Engineers and Mentors provide dedicated support, helping staff to progress towards their professional qualifications and fulfil their career ambitions.

Structural engineers follow the IStructE route towards chartership. A senior chartered engineer is assigned to graduates through the initial professional development (IPD) stages and projects are tailored to the individual to help meet the IPD requirements. Our senior partner Mike Ellis is a marking examiner for the professional examination and Chris Martin is an interviewer for the professional review. Both provide invaluable insights for our graduates progressing towards chartership including assessment of mock exams and interviews.

Deanne Netto, Graduate Civil Engineer in our Henley office

"I joined Simpson TWS in August 2022 and work in the Civil Engineering team. I get to utilise the skills I developed in my degree at Coventry Uni on a range of projects ranging from large scale residential units to smaller private properties. I work on a variety of tasks including flood risk assessment, earthworks analysis and drainage strategies. My project team is the right size to be able to see a project from start to finish so my contribution to the overall success of the project is clear.

My line manager is not only very helpful anytime I am struggling with a task or have any questions but also gives me all the opportunity I need to develop and progress.

This job has been very rewarding so far because unlike some larger organisations, there aren’t hoops to jump through to get promoted. If I’m good at my job, develop my skills and work hard here, I’ll get on.

When I’m ready to get on with my professional qualifications with ICE, I know the guidance and support I will need is there.

There’s a good atmosphere in the office. We are really busy and work hard but there’s a good team spirit and plenty of opportunity to socialise outside the office."

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is fundamental to the growth of our business and our people.

In addition to our formal structured graduate and apprentice training we maintain a programme of seminars and events in a range of subjects. These are provided by external organisations, professional bodies and internally by staff members who have developed a particular expertise in a developing or specialist area.

Our CPD programmes ensure we support the technical and professional development of our staff and continue to provide the best possible advice to our clients.