As part of our activities for NI Apprenticeship Week, 2 – 6 February, we will be sharing profiles of SERC apprentices, at different levels who are employed in a range of sectors. We’re starting with Aisling Hyndman who was keen to progress but found a change of direction to apprenticeship suited her better.
With GCSEs and A-Levels under her belt, Aisling Hyndman was off to university. However, the combination of her chosen degree course and being away from home prompted her to think that this was not the route for her, and that a change of direction was necessary.
Aisling (19) from Belfast said, “When I was completing my A-Levels I was interested in paramedics, teaching and civil engineering. I got good grades, giving me plenty of choices, and took up a course in paramedic science at Liverpool John Moores University. However, I found being out in the middle of the night in a big city - on shifts - a bit much but said I would give it a year. After that, I decided I wasn’t happy, so I moved back home.
“I still wanted to progress and was looking at other courses in local universities, when I spotted an advertisement for apprenticeship opportunities with the Department for Infrastructure (DFI). I successfully secured a post with them, and I am now completing my Level 3 Apprenticeship NÍ in Civil Engineering with South Eastern Regional College (SERC), at the college’s Lisburn Campus.
“Right now I work four days at DFI and come into SERC one day a week. I work in the Highway Structures Unit. They design and repair bridges or any kind of structure connected with roads. Most recently I have been out on site at Kilrea Bridge and Ballykeel Bridge. There are opportunities to gain experience in different units within DFI, for example, Resurfacing or Design. You can also keep progressing in work as you gain qualifications.
“My main mentor in work is my line manager, but I feel comfortable asking help from anyone in the team – really they are all like mentors. There is also another apprentice. A typical day at work can find me in the office, designing on AutoCAD or using Excel to work on estimates or I could be out on site working with the grounds team, taking measurements and seeing that the designs and work is being followed correctly. I love being out on site taking surveys.
“Doing the apprenticeship and coming to SERC one day a week has been good. Obviously it is totally different from university - I don’t regret going for the year as it was still all experience for me – but I am enjoying the mix at work, being in the office and out on site, and then having the day in college for all the theory. The class is small and the tutors are great.”
She added, “University is good, but you are coming out with debt, and even now if I had a choice between going to university to do civil engineering or doing the apprenticeship route, I would choose the latter.”
In conclusion Aisling said, “My plan is to continue with the apprenticeship and then top up to a degree in civil engineering, and I can do all that through my current employer - which is brilliant!”
Would-be apprentices and employers are invited to SERC during NI Apprenticeship Week, 2 – 6 February 2026, for a packed schedule of activities including Have a Go Sessions - from 4.30 – 7.00pm on Tuesday 3 February (Bangor and Newtownards Campuses) and Thursday 5 February (Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses).
Visitors at our Newtownards Campus on Tuesday 3 February will also be able to drop into our new state-of-the-art Fire and Security training facilities, to meet potential employers offering apprenticeships in this growth area.
