Isabelle Wagstaff - recipient of The Alfred Leung Memorial Prize

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU CHOSE TO STUDY A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP?

I didn’t think university was for me.  When I finished my A-levels a family member suggested I look at a higher-level apprenticeship.  So I looked on the Government website and found an opportunity at H E Barnes Limited.  My application was successful, and I started as an Apprentice Project Manager in 2017 when I was 18.  I completed my HNC/HND and NVQ Level 5 at Leeds College of Building which put me in good stead for a Level 6 ‘top up’ Degree Apprenticeship. As a Project Manager, a HNC is required for my job role, however the further education received through my degree has been essential for personal progression and improving both my technical and practical knowledge of Building Services Engineering. I have now finished my degree and am in the process of completing my End Point Assessment (EPA). I’m really looking forward to demonstrating the positive outcomes from this academic route. My employer can also reap the benefits of 5 years of support and investment in my education and training for many years to come. 

WHAT SUPPORT HAVE YOU HAD FROM YOUR EMPLOYER THROUGHOUT YOUR STUDIES?

As part of my degree apprenticeship 20% of my work time had to be dedicated to “off the job” training. My employer fully supported this and also encouraged me to source further industry training to increase my CPD (continued professional development) hours. I did this through institutes and organisations such as CIBSE and CITB. H E Barnes have always understood the challenges of combining work and study and have been very flexible. They offered me paid leave for exam preparation and also helped me manage my work commitments around day release for university. As a company, my training mentor has always been available for university reviews and offered feedback and guidance where necessary, as well as organising the company funded training qualifications required to complete my degree and EPA. 

WHAT HAS BEEN THE FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOUR COURSE AND TIME AT LEEDS BECKETT?

I’ve been able to develop relationships with my peers and learn about their job responsibilities/skills and different perspectives on Building Services. Many of my peers were mature students so they were able to share their experience and lessons learnt with me. Throughout my course, I attended  various guest lecturers and was inspired by the speaker’s knowledge. It was also useful to hear first-hand about some of their project, which helped me when I was completing my assignments. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT STUDYING A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP?

DO IT! I never intended to go to university but as a part-time student I was able to achieve the best work-education-personal life balance for me. The icing on the cake was being paid for full-time employment and the government funding my degree. Work experience is essential to Building Services Engineering and other construction degrees. It helps you to compare the academic theories taught in the classroom and how they can be implemented on site. I won’t say it’s always been easy, any educational journey is difficult, but when also factoring in full time employment it’s important to ensure you remain organised and motivated throughout your studies. To complete your EPA (similar to an NVQ qualification) you have to demonstrate a variety of skills and knowledge. The majority are work based, so it’s imperative that your employer can give you the right resources to reach the criteria and that they are willing to help wherever and whenever required.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

I’m currently in the process of completing my EPA. Following successful completion I will gain  Associate CIBSE Membership and IENG Status. Both of these are recognised within the industry and will be invaluable to my progression within Building Services. At work, I’m currently starting my next project which is a £6+ million M&E value scheme, working as lead Mechanical Project Manager. This new project will test my leadership and management skills. It’s possible that I’ll make mistakes along the way but, I can only learn from them and add to my experience portfolio.

WHY ARE DEGREE APPRENTICES VALUABLE TO BUSINESSES?

“At only 23, Isabelle is a professional, confident, and aspirational young female working within a male-dominated construction industry. She is dedicated, conscientious, hardworking and helpful and takes every opportunity to learn from best practice and gain industry knowledge.  HE Barnes are proud of her outstanding results achieved at university, which is testament to her dedication to learning and development in all aspects of her chosen career path in M&E Services Project Management.  We have high hopes that Isabelle will continue to learn, develop, and grow into an integral part of our team, with a long prosperous career at H E Barnes in front of her” 

Abbey Rogers, Former HR Manager and Training Mentor throughout course duration, H E Barnes Ltd

Find out more about Degree Apprenticeships at Leeds Beckett on our website.