Becoming a CPW apprentice: John Deobald

With apprenticeship roles currently on offer across our UK offices, we sat down with one of our current apprentices, John Deobald, to hear more about his experience of the CPW apprenticeship scheme so far.

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am a Trainee Design Engineer and my main discipline is Mechanical Engineering. As an apprentice and trainee, I primarily use software like Excel, Revit and AutoCAD to design and draw plans and schematics for the mechanical services in buildings, floor by floor, with the guidance of more experienced colleagues.

There are other aspects to the role as well, such as consulting with external suppliers for advice on how their products/services could benefit our own clients.

Regular training sessions/seminars (including optional ones for your personal development) are provided to both ensure that we are kept up to date on news and trends in the industry but also so that we meet the standards of professional organisations like the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers or the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Finally, I spend one day a week in education, learning more about the construction industry and building services engineering as a whole.

What led you to apply for an apprenticeship?

Like many others, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue as a career after my GCSEs but strongly felt the pressure to go to university and get a degree. I picked my favourite subject at the time, Chemistry, but realised a couple of years into my degree that I didn’t want to pursue it as a career.

After completing my degree, I got a job in retail to take some time to think about what I wanted to do for a career. After several years, I realised that I wanted to get into engineering, and I was especially interested in temperature/environmental control technology.

I did not initially think an apprenticeship would be a viable option, as I was living independently (rather than the ‘typical’ apprentice still living at home with their parents) so I didn’t think I could afford to pay rent and bills that way.

So, I went in circles trying to find ways to get the engineering education required to break into the industry with my four years of Student Finance already used up, and Engineering Master’s degree providers requiring a ‘more relevant’ undergraduate degree.

Eventually, I found myself looking again at apprenticeships and realising that they not only provided a comparable salary that would let me support myself but provided a pathway to getting the engineering education that my degree had denied me.

You can feel a little out of place being older and working before becoming an apprentice, but everyone has been very welcoming, and it was obvious during the interview that the work experience and skills I had developed were really valuable to CPW.

What attracted you to CPW?

I was extremely impressed by what I found on the CPW website and in its case studies. I was already aware of ‘the paradox of cooling’ – where a warming world requires increased air conditioning which exacerbates the energy demands fuelling climate change – something which weighed heavily on my mind, given my passion for minimising our impact on the environment conflicted with my interest in technology like air conditioning.

Thus, CPW’s website and case studies were inspirational to me by showing how, in detail, this trap can be sidestepped through baking in low-energy/low-carbon options from the very beginning and then offsetting any unavoidable carbon emissions through cleaner technologies like heat pumps.

The wide range of world-first and cutting-edge projects, especially relating to BREEAM certification, further convinced me that if I wanted to tackle climate change, CPW was fighting at the front lines.

What's the best thing about being an apprentice at CPW?

The company culture. It is really relaxed and welcoming, compared to other workplaces I have known, like one big family rather than a strict hierarchy. They offer a lot of benefits and provide lots of training and guidance to help you reach your goals and further your career, all free.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining CPW or starting an apprenticeship?

With CPW, I would absolutely recommend taking an in-depth look at the website, visiting one of the offices or doing some work experience to see what it is like to work here and the kinds of work you would be doing. You are likely to be impressed.

Regarding doing an apprenticeship, I would encourage anyone thinking about it to not discount it based on preconceived notions, like I originally did. In a lot of ways, it is the best of both worlds and can help people who have been let down or left behind by other forms of progression to get a leg up and start a (new) career.

Want to find out more about our apprenticeship programme? Visit our dedicated page.