The CIHT’s Apprentice of the Year Award highlights the achievements of apprentices in the highways and transportation sector – and the organisations behind them. To get a sense of what the future looks like for a young high-flier, we talked to CIHT’s Apprentice of the Year Michael Richardson, a transport planning technician apprentice from Tees Valley Combined Authority...

What are you most looking forward to in 2022, from a work perspective?

The biggest thing will be seeing all the projects I've been working on coming to life. Last year we were putting in the groundwork for a lot of projects such as one for electric vehicle charging points. We'll obviously get to see those points being installed this year, which will be satisfying.

I've also worked on some rail station improvements and they should move closer towards completion this year.

Michael Richardson, Transport Planning Technician Apprentice, Tees Valley Combined Authority

What skills and qualifications are you looking to get or work towards this year?

In March I’ll finish the classroom learning element of my Level Three engineering technician apprenticeship. From there, I have to work towards the end point assessment stage through CIHT, so I should hopefully make some good progress towards that, with the aim of picking up that qualification in 2023.

In terms of the practical work that I get involved in through my apprenticeship, there is a lot to look forward to. Two of the biggest goals for me in 2022 will be dealing with extra responsibility and pushing myself out of my comfort zone a bit more. Using the investment that the Tees Valley is getting as best we can and making a real transformational impact in the area are key goals.

Will you get the opportunity to lead projects or be a driving force or key decision-maker on a job?

Yes, I’ve definitely been given a lot of responsibility. I've not been in charge of a project by myself so far, but I've been one of the leads on many of them. At the moment, I’m one of the leads on our cycling and walking consultation, which is planning schemes in Middlesbrough and Darlington. And I'm sure that there'll be more opportunities for me in the next year or so.

How has the pandemic affected you and your apprenticeship?

It was quite strange, because we were mainly based at home when I started. After six months, I’d only met a handful of people – basically my close team members. But being able to go back into the office last summer was good because I got to meet a lot of people that I hadn’t yet spoken to, despite being there for over a year.

I find being back in the office much easier for meetings and being able to ask someone a quick question. My own learning has also benefited being around colleagues. I'm definitely happy to be back in, compared with online learning.

What have been the biggest lessons that you've learned throughout your apprenticeship?

Coming from an educational background straight into my first job, one of the biggest lessons has been having confidence in the workplace. My confidence has increased dramatically when it comes to being able to speak to colleagues and members of the public, give presentations, and use my voice more in meetings.

I’ve gained a lot of other strengths in technical practices in areas such as data analysis, GIS mapping and carrying out consultations. They have all been great skills that will be really useful now and after my apprenticeship throughout my career.

Michael won the CIHT Apprentice of the Year 2021

Here’s all the people shortlisted for CIHT Apprentice of the Year 2021, congratulations to all of you!
● Jack Barnes, Highways Maintenance Operative, Northamptonshire Highways
● Conor Hounsell, Civil Engineering Apprentice, Morgan Sindall
● Michael Richardson, Transport Planning Technician Apprentice, Tees Valley Combined Authority
● Rachel Ryan, Undergraduate Civil Engineer, WSP
● Meg Scott, Graduate Apprentice, AECOM

Register Your Interest for the 2022 CIHT Apprentice of the Year Award