Lizzie Jones

Lizzie Jones

Transport Planning Apprentice

Transport Planning Apprentice Lizzie Jones discusses her passion for her course and why people should consider our Apprenticeship Programmes. 

Hello, my name is Lizzie Jones and I’ve worked for Mott MacDonald for two years, based in the iconic Liver Building office in Liverpool. I lived in Birmingham for three years, where I studied Graphic Communication at Birmingham City University, graduating in 2019 with a First-Class degree.

After I graduated, I had planned to travel but Covid-19 put a hold on this, so I decided to find a more stable job. I initially applied for a Civil Engineering apprenticeship with Motts but was offered a place on the Transport Planning apprenticeship. Leeds College of Building was the only place that offered this course and was where previous apprentices at Motts had studied.

My favourite thing about studying at Leeds College of Building was how varied the lessons were. Different tutors had a different teaching style, but it was always interactive. There were also lots of opportunities to visit new cities, including a European field trip. I was extremely lucky to be grouped with who I was with - students and tutors!

Since completing the apprenticeship, I have moved teams within Motts and am now part of the Urban Design team which focuses less on transport and more on place. This was better suited to my skill set, but everything I have learned through the course helps influence design decisions and gives a better understanding of why things work.

My next steps in my career are to develop my skills and knowledge in Urban Design, and hopefully travel and work abroad to experience different cultures and how they approach problems and find solutions.

The biggest achievement in my college journey has been receiving a Distinction for my End Point Assessment. I was worried in the lead up to the interview, but the best thing to do is practice and it pays off.