Career progression and development
West Sussex County Council offers an extensive range of fulfilling progression opportunities for aspiring Civil Engineers wanting to develop their skills.
Career path examples
"Apprenticeships have massively aided my learning and development, gaining fully-funded qualifications whilst working and earning a wage. This is different to the conventional university route and helps you to progress professionally and personally simultaneously".
“I first became interested in civil engineering in the 1970s, as a young boy precariously balanced on the back of a bulldozer on a construction site! As attention toward health and safety intensified and my enthusiasm for labouring outside in all weathers waned, I sought out an engineering career with WSCC. I’ve now had the pleasure of designing and delivering highway improvements and maintaining them to be safe for all users for over 35 years".
"A career in civil engineering is intensely rewarding with many opportunities to specialise; whether that is the built environment, drainage, structures, highway maintenance, traffic engineering, road safety, or other areas. Come join us and see where your journey (safely) takes you".
“When I joined West Sussex, I was unsure of where I wanted my career to take me, but quickly developed a passion for highways engineering. The diversity of career paths in engineering, as well as the excellent support from WSCC, has meant that there were plenty of possibilities when developing my career path and the variety of day to day activities has meant that work never gets old. Working in an area that strives to actively improve the county has given me great pride in my work and achievements".
“As a regular commuter, it gives me great satisfaction that I can safely travel to work and back, using our local road network with very minimal disruption. In the work I do, I have a part to play in making that happen”.
"I joined WSCC with a background in construction and an interest in civil engineering. The apprenticeship route allowed me to build an understanding of different engineering roles undertaken by the council whilst developing my engineering knowledge, attending university 1 day a week. This was the perfect entry point as I had time to develop into a role that was right for me. I gained valuable experience in highway operations and maintenance before moving into a planned delivery role, designing and overseeing the construction of highway improvement projects. I am excited to continue my development undertaking a degree apprenticeship this year alongside my role as a senior engineer".
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To become a professionally qualified civil engineer, we would suggest undertaking a Level 4 HNC Civil Engineering Senior Technician if you are interested in joining us as a career graded EngTech Technician-Senior Technician-Engineer.
However, we offer a variety of entry level apprenticeships from Level 3 which require you to have 5 GCSEs passes (with a minimum grade B in Maths) and do not need you to have previously studied civil engineering.
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WSCC encourage senior staff to:
- be inspirational leaders and managers
- be able to communicate with a range of different stakeholders
- be creative and critical thinkers who can analyse complex problems
- develop effective solutions
- have excellent time management skills
- be able to adapt to ever changing situations
Most of all, we seek team players who strive to provide the best possible service to our customers.
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As a professional engineering institution, ICE share learning and experience through:
- original research
- engaging events
- professional development
- partnerships
- mentoring
When you study for a civil engineering qualification, ICE qualify engineers working in infrastructure to maintain their competence throughout their careers to create safer infrastructure for society.
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See our careers page to see the various career opportunities at WSCC and their associated pay gradings.