Ryan hails apprenticeship programme as he takes another important step on the ladder7th Feb 2022

Ryan Joyce is symbolic of the impact made by the award-winning Jones Bros’ apprenticeship programme, which allows learners to gain experience on sites like King’s Dyke while they complete their qualification.

After finishing a level three construction qualification at Coleg Menai in North Wales, Ryan began his journey with Jones Bros in 2018.

Fast forward three-and-a-half years and the 21-year-old completed a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering last summer.

The civil engineer has been working on the King’s Dyke project for more than a year.

“I’m really enjoying working at King’s Dyke,” said Caernarfon-based Ryan, who is more than 240 miles from home in Cambridgeshire. “It’s great experience; I’ve been doing surveying and ground monitoring, as well as kerbing, and it’s been superb to be involved in major projects onsite like the railway bridge and the underpass.

“It’s brilliant because I don’t want to be sat in the same job doing the same thing all of my life and there’s a great variety on this project.”

Rather than the usual one day per week release to complete his HND, the pandemic meant heading back to Coleg Cambria in Wrexham, North Wales for a more intense learning experience.

“It was a bit tough!” said Ryan. “But it made things more interesting doing it in a three-month block like we did, and the course and the support were fantastic.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Jones Bros for the help and encouragement they’ve given me and my career.

“The apprenticeship scheme is brilliant. I got to work onsite here at King’s Dyke whilst completing my current qualifications and the aim is to become a chartered civil engineer.”