The momentum is growing in the relationship between a local structural engineering company and an Ipswich college, with another two students securing apprenticeships.

James Williams and Charlie Dando from One Sixth Form College have been appointed as degree apprentices at Superstructures after completing their BTEC in engineering.

The students will soon join their colleagues, Lee Allendar who started his apprenticeship at Superstructures in 2020, and David Williams who started last October.

Another One student, Liam Swann, who joined the business in 2019 has just been promoted to a senior apprentice.

Liam is now responsible for overseeing specific areas of development for all new apprentices in the team.

All the apprentice structural engineers work alongside the team at Superstructures, helping to provide structural engineering and design services throughout East Anglia.

As part of their apprenticeship, they all study for their degrees part-time at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford.

The new apprentice, Charlie Dando, said: “I became interested in structural engineering in my first year at One, and I found that it was one of the units I excelled in.

“My teachers picked up on this and suggested that I apply to Superstructures.

“When I realised they were looking for new apprentices, I felt like Christmas had come early and I knew that I had to apply.

“The main thing I love about the job is that every project is different. It never feels repetitive and feels like a new opportunity to learn with every project which you take on.

“This for me makes the job very enjoyable and allows it to never get boring.”

James Williams added: “My first experience of structural engineering was the same as Charlie, but then I met some of the Superstructures team at a careers event, and I quickly became interested in starting my career with them.”

James Potter, the managing director of Superstructures, said that the relationship with One has enabled the company to gain access to a “pipeline of young talented individuals", who are interested in a career in structural engineering.

He added: “Our apprentices are some of the best people in our team with huge potential for the future.

“Employing well-rounded young people in the business, who we can develop alongside their education is, absolutely, the way forward and enables us to keep growing as a company.”