My Stantec Story: Tackling complex designs and client asset challenges with Alex Prance
September 21, 2022
Alex, a design and technical assurance engineer, shares his journey from apprentice to secondment with a major water client
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In the My Stantec Story series, our designers, engineers, marketers, project managers, and leaders come together to share how their career journeys at Stantec have shaped their lives and moved them closer to their goals.
Tell us about your role…
I joined Stantec in October 2015 as an apprentice in the Cardiff office after studying my A-levels. Since completing my level 3 apprenticeship, I was offered to progress onto a part-time civil engineering degree at the University of South Wales. I am now entering my final two years. I am currently working in a design and technical assurance role within one of Stantec’s major clients, ensuring delivery and assurance of multiple programs.
What attracted you to a career at Stantec?
My relationship with Stantec dates back to 2015 when I joined as an apprentice. I never had aspiration at the time to go to university but wanted to do some type of engineering. After attending local career fairs, I found Rochdale Training association and Stantec promoting an engineering apprenticeship. I knew that I wanted to join the team in Cardiff. It wasn’t just the opportunity to work on some of the most interesting infrastructure and development projects in the United Kingdom—it was the people, especially in the Cardiff Office.
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What do you enjoy most about your role?
My favourite part of engineering and my area of work is the new challenges each week. I engage and build relationships with multiple aspects of the business which ensure Stantec and our clients achieve successful outcomes.
My role has allowed me to learn, advance with my career and impact my university studies in a positive way.
How has your personal and professional development been supported at Stantec?
From a young adult finishing my sixth form studies, starting an engineer apprenticeship in 2015, to being given the opportunity to take my learning and development to the next steps at university, learning has provided a positive impact throughout my career journey. Stantec as an organisation—but also my Cardiff office—has supported me at every step along the way.
Last year I took on the role as Cardiff office STEM lead. I took this role because of the positive career and development journey I have been on, Stantec supports me promoting STEM initiatives online and to local South Wales schools and colleges. This year, I joined our apprentice working group to also ensure all new and existing apprentices at the Company have the same positive journey.
What has been the standout project for you during your time at Stantec?
Over the last two years, I have acted as a client design and technical assurance engineer within the AMP7 contract. The main goal for this client is to ensure the delivery of suitable working assets for the client operational teams and their customers. This role has allowed me to advance within my individual work career but also assist my university studies. Daily, I have had to deal with complex designs including directional drilling under houses, deep shafts, and under buildings to name a few. I produce outline design documentation before providing technical assurance through the detail design, construction, and handover phase to ensure the project aligns to our clients’ expectations.
This role came around following the successful construction and programme delivery during the AMP6 contract. The client wanted individuals who understand its needs and expectations and have history of successfully delivering multi-site programme and complex individual projects.
My other key highlight was winning the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Wales Cymru STEM Ambassador of the year 2020. During the Covid period, education and working lifestyles changed for everyone—it was amazing to be acknowledged for making a difference to students during a difficult time.
What are your ambitions for the future at Stantec?
I am excited about what the future holds at Stantec and the opportunities that lie ahead following of the completion of my university studies. I seek to become an advocate and mentor for Stantec’s engineering apprenticeship program and to communicate to all students that Stantec can be a place to grow a professional and aspiring engineer career. I wish to continue learning and leading projects for our clients.
What are your passions outside of work?
I always been into both normal and adrenaline sports. I enjoy enduro mountain biking and day long hiking across the Brecon Beacons, Rhondda, Cardiff, and Caerphilly areas. I play for a local Cardiff 11 aside football team with regular Saturday games. When I am not out and about, I have a passion for gaming, and have used this to make and keep connections with school friends when they attend university across the UK.
Why should others join the Stantec team?
Stantec is the perfect place for young aspiring engineers to join and develop their skills through a professionally set up apprenticeship route in a leading global engineering consultancy. Stantec will support you in work, college and at university. They push you individually and give opportunities to ensure that you get the development to head in the direction which you want. Our projects have clear positive impacts to people and places across the world.
At Stantec, we put people first, and for Alex this means sharing his experiences as an apprenticeship to help other aspiring engineers. If you want to start your career at Stantec, visit Graduates & Apprentices to find out more.