Hi, I’m Kai Ginifer and I’m an apprentice with McPhillips. I’ve agreed to write a diary about what it’s like being an apprentice and hope that it might inspire others to check out this route into construction.
I’ve been with McPhillips for over a year. As an apprentice I spend 3 weeks a month on site and 1 week at Telford College studying towards an NVQ Level 2 in Construction Operations.
Dudley Road, Birmingham
We’re well into phase 3 of our works on the Dudley Road Improvement Scheme. Overall, the scheme will deliver upgraded facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, new bus lanes and reduced traffic congestion.
I’ve been digging the WPD ducting. You dig down to 850mm deep for the top of the tarmac to lay 4 ducts with 750mm covers. Then apply sand and warning tape over the top, stone backfill in the layers and use the whacker-plate to compact.
More digging, this time for the kerb race. Digging down to the top of the services, the level depends on whether we stone up for a normal 200mm kerb race thickness, or overpour with concrete. We use steel pins for a smooth race. The engineer sets out the pins for the string line. You dip down the string line for 250mm to allow for the kerb and lay a bed of screed.
Yorks Bridge, Walsall
A change of scene for a while. We’re building a new bridge which will carry Norton Road over the Wyrley & Essington Canal north of Pelsall.
I helped divert a small 32mm water main. We cut it off at both ends, used reels of new pipe to bury and connect, dug a long trench, laid the new pipe in and applied warning tape over it. We then used the laser to maintain the correct measurement of 1.1m the whole length through. This was then filled in and levelled off with top soil.
I’ve also been helping out with organising things in the site office. Files and folders always need to be up to date. I made sure all sections of the job contained the correct permits, plans, surveys and drawings, as well as risk assessments, toolbox talks and method statements. Deliveries of signage, raw materials, posters and more need to be accounted for and stored correctly, I’ve also been looking after some of this work too.
Telford College, Wellington
We finished all our preparatory work – collating job hours, photo evidence, job cards, write ups and testimonies, all of which goes into our portfolios for review. Next up were the exams! We should receive our results in December.
This will be my final diary entry as I am no longer an apprentice. I’m moving into a full time role. I hope you have enjoyed my diaries, if they have inspired just one person to consider an apprenticeship it will have been worthwhile.
All the best,
Kai
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