National Apprenticeship Week 2024: A Spotlight on... Lewis Coleing, our Electrical Design Engineer

With National Apprenticeship Week 2024 in full swing, we’ve caught up with our very own Lewis Coleing who started his apprenticeship journey at CPW in 2016. Here, Lewis gives us insight on his experience as an apprentice along with some advice for others looking to get started.

Where does your interest in engineering come from?

Engineering was always what I wanted to do as a career from a young age, although I didn’t realise it was such a broad term and the many different opportunities the industry could offer me. All I knew was that I really enjoyed problem solving and this was a big part of being an engineer.

Prior to beginning my apprenticeship, my exposure to the industry was minimal, aside from a few family members that worked within the construction industry and that I had undertaken an Engineering BTEC. However, this did allow me to have a basic understanding of lighting design and elements such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) - which benefits me in my role today.

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am currently an electrical building services design engineer. I am responsible for ensuring my designs fulfil clients’ needs, while staying considerate of factors such as safety, efficiency, sustainability and client budget throughout the design process.

Daily, I work to produce detailed designs of various electrical services including power distribution, lighting designs, fire alarm systems, data systems and much more.

Why did you opt to join CPW and its apprenticeship programme?

My decision to join CPW’s apprenticeship programme in 2016 was largely because I was really impressed with the offering available to me, especially as I was really interested in pursuing electrical engineering at the time.

Having on the job training from the beginning and consistent internal support as standard, the apprenticeship programme offering catered to my needs and aspirations – providing the right balance of practical experience, mentorship and exposure that I wanted.

As a company, CPW has offered me such a large amount of support throughout my time so far, which has been hugely beneficial for me, especially starting out as a young apprentice in a new industry.

What advice do you have for someone considering an apprenticeship or career in engineering?

There are several advantages to taking the apprenticeship route within the building services and construction industry. Primarily, I believe gaining on-the-job experience at an early age has taught me to become hardworking, punctual, collaborative and competent in my role today.

My time as an apprentice has also opened so many doors for me to expand my knowledge and really learn about the industry first hand. The apprenticeship route allows me to engage with various age groups and work with various disciplines across the construction sector. Having the option to do these things has not only assisted me with my academic and career growth, but my apprenticeship has also really helped me grow as a person.

The apprenticeship route has allowed me to make exceptional progress at a much quicker pace than I ever thought. In my opinion, an apprenticeship route is the best path for those who wish to gain valuable, high quality job experience, while still achieving educational goals.

What do you hope to achieve in the next stages of your career?

I feel confident in my career going forward, having grown my experience and expertise in my time with CPW so far. I’m excited to expand my knowledge and skills even further, progressing both within the industry and CPW.

For more information about our apprenticeship programme, visit our apprenticeships page.