Apprenticeship Journey Toward Safer Futures

Aysha Ergul is a Safety, Health and Environment apprentice at Costain, completing her NVQ at Hartlepool College. Here, she speaks to us about her journey, her ambitions, and the enormous impact apprentices can have on their workplaces. When Aysha Ergul decided to pursue a career in health and safety, she knew she was stepping into the unknown. Construction was a world away from her previous role in operational administration, where she had completed an apprenticeship and was looking for a new challenge.

"From the perspective of my previous role, I was really excited at the prospect of moving into the health and safety side of things, but there wasn't an opportunity to move into that career where I was," says Aysha, 24, who is close to completing her Safety Health and Environment NVQ at Hartlepool College as part of an apprenticeship with national infrastructure company Costain. "I saw this opportunity and thought it would be great. I'm still learning every day, and everything still feels new, which I love."

Aysha began her new apprenticeship in September 2024, having been convinced by her previous experience that this combined learning format was the right fit. "I did hesitate at first as I wondered, do I really want to do another apprenticeship? But the more I thought about it, the more I knew it was absolutely the right path for me. The significance of the learning you gain and the ability to apply that learning in a real-world environment is so different from traditional study. You're getting all the benefits of on-site experience while studying for a qualification at the same time.”

Aysha had initially pursued A levels in law, sociology and business, but found the structure wasn't right for her. "I just knew I wanted to get into the industry. My apprenticeship was a foot in the door, which I wouldn’t have had otherwise.” Starting in a completely new sector might have felt challenging, but Aysha says the support she received from the outset made all the difference. Her lecturer and assessor at Hartlepool College, Cliff Down, visited her in her first week and went through the entire course with her the syllabus, the structure, and what to expect at every stage.

"From day one, we knew exactly what to expect and what we needed to do," she says. "That really matters. The first few months were fresh and new, and yes, there was a learning curve, but it never felt too daunting. Knowing that I could speak to Cliff, and that there was support not just on site but here at the college too, meant I could just get on with it."

Aysha has not only thrived in her new environment and industry, but she has also started making it better for everyone. Noticing that her construction site lacked basic provisions for women, she took the initiative to address it directly. "Construction has always been very male-dominated, and the facilities often reflect that," she explains. "On our site, there were no sanitary products, and the toilet facilities were in open communal portakabins across open spaces. It's the kind of thing that people who aren't affected by it wouldn't necessarily think about, but can mean a huge amount to the people who are affected."

Aysha raised the issue with the site's facilities coordinator and proposed a straightforward solution: sanitary product baskets installed in all toilets across the site. The idea was implemented and has since been rolled out across Costain's Teesside sites. "The impact was immediate," she says. "It's about making sure that everyone feels comfortable and recognised. I want to keep looking for improvements like that across the business and wider industry. It's part of what health and safety is really about – helping people be the best they can be at work."

Aysha returned to Hartlepool College to present her service improvement project, sharing her experience with staff and students. Aysha’s presentation was an important reminder that meaningful, widespread change can come from anyone, at any stage of their career.

Aysha's story connects directly with Hartlepool College's ongoing work to support and champion women in construction. The college is a partner of NAWIC (the National Association of Women in Construction), a partnership running since 2018 that works to represent and support women who are building careers in the sector, targeting younger women and girls in particular and providing the role models and mentors who show what is possible.

For Aysha, that sense of responsibility is something she feels keenly. "Construction is changing, but it still needs people who are willing to speak up and make practical improvements, and not just wait for things to shift on their own. I want to be someone who does that. If a younger woman starting out can look at what I've done and think, 'that's possible for me too,' then that means a great deal."

With her qualification on track to be completed ahead of schedule and a clear sense of purpose already driving change in her industry, Aysha's story is only just beginning.