Meet Sarah Speirs

Sarah, a graduate apprentice at Arcadis and Glasgow Caledonian University, joined the Civil Engineering graduate apprenticeship programme due to her passion for its practical nature. She noted that the seamless blend of hands-on experience and academic education has allowed her to acquire a greater practical skill set compared to peers who pursued more conventional paths in the industry. This proves to be a considerable advantage for our graduate apprentices when it comes to transitioning into the workforce.

Witnessing her designs materialize and exploring diverse disciplines like road design, bridge design, and urban planning are a particularly rewarding aspect of the programme. Opting for the graduate apprenticeship path, Sarah has embraced it's many advantages such as the hands-on learning environment, on-the-job training, and the perks of being an employee, including a salary, paid holidays, and an excellent support network.

During her time at GCU Sarah has been granted the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects including foundation design  at an airport in Orkney, a decarbonisation project at Network Rail and the surveying of some high-risk drainage sites following the Stonehaven disaster.

Fostering a supportive learning environment

Unfortunately, Sarah has faced obstacles along her graduate apprenticeship journey when the employer she initially enrolled with made her redundant. However, GCU has provided exceptional support to Sarah during this difficult time by connecting her with prospective employers, facilitating negotiation and ensuring a seamless transition into her new employment contract with Arcadis.

This exemplifies the core values of GCU, as we strive to support our apprentices and ensure their well-being and growth throughout their entire journey.