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CLASS OF 2023: Degree Apprentices engineer a great partnership

26/09/2023

Two Walsall Council Degree Apprentices have proved that age is no barrier to learning and together they’ve engineered a great partnership, both graduating with First Class degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton.

Clive Kenton, 64, and Eden Turley, 22, studied for the Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeships in the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the £120M brownfield regeneration project which has become the Springfield Construction Super Campus. 

At either ends of the learning spectrum, the two Apprentices have supported each other since starting the part-time Apprenticeship over five years.

Two Civil Engineering students graduating

Clive has worked for Walsall Council for over 30 years having secured an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Building Studies and a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Civil Engineering after a stint in the Army. He was recently been promoted to Principal Engineer at the Council. Eden joined Walsall Council after completing his A Levels and is a Degree Apprentice Civil Engineer. 

The two Apprentices have supported each other from the beginning of the Apprenticeship, with Clive offering experience and knowledge gained throughout his career, and Eden helping with the more technical aspects of the degree. 

Clive said: “When I started out on my career path at Walsall Council, at the time, you had to pay for your degree and I couldn’t afford that.  It was great to find out, when Eden arrived, that I could start to study for a degree regardless of my age.  

“Having Eden at my side really helped me.  I was supposed to be his mentor, but for the first two years he was pulling me along and helping me with my Maths.  Later on, those roles reversed and I started to help him out more with report writing utilising the more in-depth knowledge and experience I’d gained over the years throughout my career. 

“My aim is to get my Incorporated Engineer (IEng) certification through this degree and the opportunity offered by my employer, Walsall Council, to achieve this qualification at my age has shown that it really is never too late to learn.” 

Eden said: “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my future. I did some work experience in Civil Engineering and it really helped to prepare me with the job at the Council and the learning on the degree. 

“Me and Clive get on really well, Clive is more academic and has had a lot more experience and I’m more technical in terms of Maths and research and Clive is a lot better at report writing so we help each other.   

“My aim through this Degree Apprenticeship is to become Chartered and move into the structural side of things - because with Civil Engineering you can actually see what you’re doing and you can make some sort of meaningful impact on the world. You also get a lot more experience on an Apprenticeship than you would going to university full-time.” 

Graduates are encouraged to keep in touch with the Alumni team and take advantage of a range of benefits and support on offer to them including a discount for Postgraduate study and opportunities to benefit from volunteering and career advice.    

Find out more about School of Architecture and Built Environment courses on the website or visit one of our Open Days for more information about studying at the University.   

  

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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