What would life be like in a profession where you are at the centre of operating, maintaining and improving one of the most advanced road networks in North Yorkshire?
You might just be about to find out! Do you want to help keep the County of North Yorkshire moving? Whatever your age, whatever your background, an apprenticeship could help you build a career with us.
Take on a fulfilling role, earn a salary, gain practical work experience with training and achieve professional qualifications - all at the same time. You have the opportunity to build your future career with NY Highways in our Fleet, Operative and Street Lighting divisions.
We believe in supporting our community and promoting the future generation to grow with transferable skills and qualifications. We believe and invest in our team by rewarding our apprentices with a national living wage, not the minimum.
NY Highways has formed a bold apprenticeship plan to include:
- Setting ambitious minimum targets for apprentices in our first year,
- Paying a living wage, not minimum wage, to show we are investing in our talent setting the foundations for a career with NY Highways,
- Promoting career grades where possible, so there’s no obvious ceiling to a new entrant,
- Investing in the best training, demonstrably rewarding development that engages the individual in real life exercises transferable to day-to-day NY Highways activity,
- Learning best practice from those such as the Fire Service in how best to promote equality in a physically demanding position,
- Learning from existing and progressing apprentices in how best to engage, nurture and foster trust so that we retain our apprentices.
Cain Bell
Depot Supervisor
Joined NYHighways in October 2021
Based in Area 1
- What role did you originally join NY Highways in, and what area are you working in now? I started originally as a Highways Apprentice, and I am now depot supervisor in the same area.
- What inspired you to choose an apprenticeship over other routes like university or full-time work? I didn’t do particularly well in college - I don’t like that environment I would rather work on the job and get a qualification – more practical and hands on.
- What motivated you to make a move within the organisation? Money and career progression – I knew coming on as an apprentice I wanted to work my way up and that’s happened. I went from apprentice, to operative and now to depot supervisor.
- Can you describe a typical day in your current role? First job in the morning is a coffee. Then prepping the materials for the days work ahead, ensuring all the lads have the tools and what they require, when the lads go out keep on top of the yard, sweeping yard, making sure its safe and presentable. I then look at any audits that might need doing like waste audits, vehicle gate checks to make sure there are no defects, fire alarms, etc. Keeping the depot running smoothly. Then a few more coffees.
- What’s been the most valuable skill or insight you’ve gained since changing roles? Knowledge of how the business works and how the supervisors deal with the day to day. Being in the depot day to day I get to see the programming of work , planning of jobs, insight into business – This will only equip me in future skills. I can also see really clearly the importance of compliance and health and safety.
- What’s been your proudest moment since joining NY Highways? Passing my apprenticeship. Felt like one of the lads.
- Have you faced any challenges during your transition, and how did you overcome them? Gaining the respect of the operatives because as one point they were my mentors – I overcame it by just doing it day to day and building up respect.
- How have your manager or colleagues supported your development and career journey? Every PDR I always expressed interest in progressing into a supervisor role, when I was an operative I did a lot of overtime and work around the yard. When the depot supervisor role opened they knew I had good work ethic and they listened to me when I asked about progression in my PDR.
- Where do you see yourself in five years, and how is NY Highways helping you get there? In 5 years I really hope I can get to supervisor. I think NYH are helping me get by supporting me to progress – like I am now depot supervisor but I am spending time being around supervisors. I think they can give me little jobs to help me to get more experience. Just little bits and bobs, but I always try and help out where I can to get more opportunities to learn.
- What advice would you give to someone looking to grow their career within NY Highways? Be proactive, use your initiative. You need to show you can work hard, let people know, take on extra and go ahead and implement it. If you are just doing your work and going home, you are never going to go anywhere – go the extra mile.
Luka Jobson
Depot Supervisor
Joined NYHighways in June 2024
Based in Area 2
- What role did you originally join NY Highways in, and what area are you working in now? I Joined as a supervisor and still a supervisor. I transferred my civil engineering apprenticeship over from NYC as I was as Highways officer there.
- What motivated you to make a move to this organisation? Development – The company itself has more routes of progression than my previous role, and more opportunities to get qualifications and experience in different aspects of highways.
- Can you describe a typical day in your current role? Organised chaos. Ensuring that the gangs are happy and organised with their day or week, directing depot supervisor to get the materials out for the day. Maintenance for the rest of the day – whilst I’m doing that I’m always programming for the next week.
- What’s been the most valuable skill or insight you’ve gained since joining NYHighways? Man management. I never had anything to do with it until I joined Nyhighways.
- What’s been your proudest moment since joining NY Highways? I received an invite from Brian Stanforth to go with him and Ross Turner to the LCRIG festival. I Really enjoyed it.
- Have you faced any challenges during your transition, and how did you overcome them?
- How have your manager or colleagues supported your development and career journey? Excellent so far – whenever I’ve asked for additional responsibilities and experiences I’ve always been given it. My manager has supported me through training that I’ve requested that was out of the norm but that’s had a benefit to the area I work in. It helped me gain a better understanding of how the lads use the vehicles and means I can help out operationally when needed, it helped me connect to the workforce.
- Where do you see yourself in five years, and how is NY Highways helping you get there? Further qualified in Civil Engineering hopefully, I would also like to be in a more senior position. Nyhighways is helping me by assisting me with development, experiences, qualifications and opportunities.
- What advice would you give to someone looking to grow their career within NY Highways? Take on more responsibility to show you can do it to be able to get to the next level and take every opportunity you get.