Leeds Degree Apprentices First in England to Achieve Incorporated Engineer Status

Leeds College of Building is celebrating the success of its ground-breaking Engineering students.

Charlie Wortley and Shane Finn, former apprentices at Leeds College of Building, are among the first in England to complete the Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship programme at Leeds Beckett University and achieve Incorporated Engineer status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

The trailblazing pair are now professionally qualified civil engineers after passing their End Point Assessment (EPA) and gaining ‘IEng MICE’ status, the internationally recognised mark of excellence. 

The Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship programme is five years long and involves work-based learning alongside an accredited degree qualification. 

Shane, 26, who works at Sweco in Leeds, said: 
“Completing my apprenticeship has been a long process but now I have passed the EPA and achieved IEng recognition with the ICE, it is the biggest achievement of my career so far.”  

Twenty-six-year-old Charlie, from Wakefield, who works as an engineer in the infrastructure design team at SCP in Leeds, added: 
“Being one of the first to pass the end point assessment is an utter privilege. The past five years have been difficult, though they have been worth it to reach this point.” 

Charlie and Shane achieved Incorporated Engineer status alongside fellow Leeds Beckett University student Joe Allison, who works for Eastwood and Partners in Sheffield. 

Richard Davis, apprenticeship manager at ICE, said: 
“Success at EPA and the IEng MICE award is testament to their hard work and dedication, and it is even more special as they are the very first Civil Engineer degree apprentices to have completed this apprenticeship at this level.” 

An apprenticeship is an excellent way for individuals to enter the civil engineering profession and earn while they learn. Apprentices develop both the academic knowledge and practical skills to be successful in their careers. 

In this way, apprentices gain valuable experience to complete their ICE initial professional development while studying for their degree, putting them on the path to a professional qualification when they complete their apprenticeship.

In February, Leeds College of Building apprentices Kayla Browne and Luke Hawkins also gained recognition after becoming two of 37 ICE members awarded ICE QUEST Technician Scholarships.
 
QUEST Technician Scholarships worth up to £1,000 are given to outstanding candidates who show leadership, ambition, determination, and ability to work well in teams or independently. All ICE scholars are working towards professional qualification as either Engineering Technician (EngTech MICE) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng MICE). 

The QUEST scholarships support members and students to learn at all stages of their career, including the Undergraduate scholarship for those applying to university this year.