Civil Engineer Apprentice - Highlands; Scotland

Overview

Civil Engineer Apprentice - Highlands (Scotland).

Start date:

September 2026. Role based in Highlands/Alness to Wick for the duration of a 2-year programme with site-based work and block release at the University of Highlands and Islands.

Murphy is a leading international, multi-disciplined engineering and construction company founded in 1951 that delivers world-class infrastructure. Murphy operates in the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, providing solutions to transportation, water, power and natural resources sectors. We employ more than 4,000 engineers, professional managers and skilled operatives worldwide and work as ‘One Murphy’ to deliver projects with people, plant and expertise.

The Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) upgrade framework includes a programme of overhead lines, underground cables and substations to redevelop the transmission network in the north of Scotland between now and 2030. Murphy’s work includes the design and construction of two new 400kV substations in Spittal and Loch Buidhe and the delivery of 85km of overhead line. Our contributions support SSEN’s ASTI Pathway to 2030 with the aim of boosting green energy production, enhancing network resilience, and upgrading transmission infrastructure.

Murphy is recruiting the next generation of civil engineers through a Civil Engineering Apprenticeship Programme. We seek highly motivated individuals with strong aspirations to pursue an engineering career within a leading UK civil engineering and construction organisation. Our civil engineering works cover tunnelling, rail projects, heavy civils, drainage works, bridge repair and replacements.

As an apprentice civil engineer you will learn to manage daily control, coordination and on-site activities to help deliver projects on time, on budget and to safety, environmental and quality standards. Your responsibilities increase throughout the programme as your skills and technical knowledge develop. You will be supported by an assigned apprenticeship mentor and university tutor to gain the right mix of skills and experience to complete the apprenticeship.

During the ASTI framework placement you will be exposed to:

• Dimensional control of site works
• Understanding engineering requirements of a project
• Planning of site activities
• Reading site documents: drawings, specifications, standards
• Working with project engineers and construction managers to develop construction strategies and sequences
• Assisting with quality control checks
• Learning to undertake site inspections
• Understanding and reviewing project documents such as health and safety documents

• Work with project engineers and construction managers
• Develop and produce construction strategies and sequences
• Undertake concept design and site inspections of temporary works
• Assist in scope reviews of civil and structural tenders
• Assist in providing design and remedial solutions
• Review and prepare risk assessments and method statements
• Establish and maintain secondary dimensional control
• Develop knowledge of as-built surveys
• Check dimensions of major elements and critical interfaces
• Monitor surveying and setting out of subcontractors, ensuring best practice
• Raise Non-Conformance Reports and monitor subcontractors for compliance with method statements and inspection and test plans
• Assist with quality control checks and support supply chain quality issues

What qualification will I receive through the apprenticeship? Depending on your current qualifications, you will follow either a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship with one of our partner universities.

Where will I be based? The position is based in North Scotland (Inverness) with work predominantly across the Highlands/Alness to Wick for the duration of the programme. Some sites are remote; travel is required. A full UK driving licence is required.

What do I need to be considered?

• National 5 Maths & English at grade A-C
• For Graduate apprenticeship, Higher Maths and at least one other STEM subject (minimum grade
  
  C) or NC Civil Engineering (SCQF
  6)

You don’t need previous experience,…