Imogen Pilkington is a former Bolton College student who completed her studies with us in June 2023. Having studied for the HNC in Civil Engineering, Imogen is a big advocate for the course, and she sat down with us to detail the various benefits it had for both her personal and professional growth.

Imogen currently works at WSP, a leading engineering consultancy firm, as a structural technician. Imogen began studying the HNC here at Bolton College back in 2021 to gain more knowledge of the industry and to supplement her day-to-day work at WSP.

The HNC that Imogen studied is a two-year programme that was delivered one day a week alongside her work commitments. Her employer WSP made sure that her workload was manageable, allowing Imogen to take full advantage of the course and teaching on offer, whilst not falling behind on any pieces of coursework.

Imogen said of the course: “The teaching was excellent, and the course gave me a really well-rounded understanding of the construction industry. The organisation I work for is multi-discipline, and the HNC gave me the foundation to apply what I’d learned in the classroom to my day-to-day job.”

On the course, Imogen learned how to use software like Revit, which allows users to create 3D models in exceptional levels of detail, essential for structural technicians.

Currently, her job sees her working on projects across Manchester, using Revit to create models of structures for multi-storey residential buildings, warehouses, schools and shopping centres, helping to certify their safety – a key part of the construction process.

After completing the course in June 2023, Imogen was promoted to a more senior role at WSP:

“Taking the HNC at Bolton College was a key part of getting a promotion at work, it was really important in giving me the confidence and knowledge to take on more responsibility.”

In her new position, Imogen is now supervising an apprentice and is encouraging those in a similar position at her work to seriously consider studying the HNC at Bolton College, to help advance their career in the industry.

In addition to our HTQ in Computing and HTQ in Construction Management, our HNC in Civil Engineering is next in line to receive HTQ accreditation - a status reserved only for those courses that have been developed in close partnership with employers and which align to clear Occupation Standards.

September 2024 will also see the introduction of two new HTQs to our curriculum in Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, furthering our commitment to providing the best possible learner experience for our students. It means we’re able to better prepare our learners for specific roles in the workforce, teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to be as successful as Imogen.

If you’re keen to follow in Imogen’s footsteps, or to forge your own path in the construction industry, follow this link for more details on the range of courses we offer with sector-leading certifications and links with employers.