Standout student Faris Kadeb has secured a competitive Level 4 Project Engineering Apprenticeship with Thames Water, beating more than 40,000 applicants!
The apprenticeship combines elements of engineering and project management, and involves four days on-site and one day of study with the University College of Estate Management. “It’s about managing different projects – like pipe renovations or infrastructure upgrades – but you also need the engineering knowledge to understand what’s happening on site,” Faris explained.
Rigorous selection process
The application process was intense. After a long period of waiting, Faris was invited to a brief but successful phone interview. “It was meant to be 30 minutes, but it ended after 10. I was worried – until they said I’d impressed them and was invited to an assessment centre.”
The assessment involved a group task and a one-on-one interview. Despite differing opinions in the team task, Faris’s ability to collaborate while standing firm made a strong impression, and just days later Thames Water offered him the role.
Leadership and careers work
Faris is clear that his extensive extracurricular activities helped him stand out. As Student Director of Careers and Employer Engagement at UTC Reading and a member of the Careers & Enterprise Company Youth Advisory Group, he has helped shape careers education locally and nationally. He is also a Company Sergeant Major in UTC Reading’s CCF programme – the second highest rank a cadet can achieve in the UK.
“I think my passion and research really showed,” he said. “And I’ve built relationships with careers leads and employers through school events and LinkedIn. That helped too.”
The UTC advantage
Faris praised UTC Reading’s practical and employer-led approach to helping him get to where he want. “I’m a hands-on learner, and UTC gave me the environment to thrive. The mock interviews, employer workshops, assessment centre practice and real-world tasks made a big difference when it came to the actual assessment day.”
When asked what advice he’d give to students considering UTC Reading, Faris said: “Do it. Whether you’re aiming for university or an apprenticeship, UTC will help you get to that next step. The employer connections and real experience give you a head start.”
Faris’s success highlights the value of hard work, extracurricular involvement and the hands-on education offered at UTC Reading and we look forward to hearing about his successes.
