28/08/2026
Starting a career in engineering is always a learning curve, but experiencing it through the eyes of an apprentice brings a fresh perspective on growth, challenge and opportunity.
Ovidui Tibuleac, one of our talented apprentices at the JPP Group, reflects on his journey so far — from stepping into the industry for the first time to gaining hands‑on experience that’s shaping his future.
🔹 My first week on the job vs. now 🔹
"When I first started within the Highways team, everything was unfamiliar. I was learning new terminology, meeting new people, and trying to understand what engineers and technicians do on a day-to-day basis. I was taught how to use 2D CAD and, after learning the basics, I reinforced my skills by applying them to live projects. There was a lot to take in, and I definitely didn’t expect to understand everything straight away. Now, I’m much more confident in my role and have developed both my technical and professional skills. I’m producing drawings for new projects, working with information from different surveys, checking work and responding to technical comments. I have a much better understanding of how our projects come together. Where I initially needed guidance through most tasks, I can now take on drawings and amendments with much more independence, knowing when I can solve something myself and when I need to ask for support.
The biggest difference since I started is probably my confidence. Things that seemed complicated or unfamiliar during my first week are now things I regularly deal with, and I’m much more comfortable approaching something I haven’t seen before and working out what needs to be done.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is how much I question things. I think asking questions is an important part of an apprenticeship because, ultimately, I’m here to learn. If I don’t understand why something has been done a certain way, I’ll question it and learn from the engineer’s reasoning. This means I’m not just learning how to complete a task, but also understanding the thought process behind it and making the most of the experience of the people around me.
For me, that’s one of the biggest benefits of an apprenticeship is that you get to learn the theory at university while having the opportunity to apply it to real projects and learn directly from experienced people around you. That combination was a big reason why I chose to do an apprenticeship, and choosing JPP gave me the opportunity to gain real experience on live engineering projects while being supported by experienced engineers and technicians. Being able to learn from the people around me, take on more responsibility as my skills develop and see how my work contributes to the wider project is what makes the apprenticeship such a valuable way to start my career."
Engineering
