www.apprentices.co.uk Thu, 09 February 2012 09:15:00 Thu, 09 February 2012 09:15:00 10 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/february/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired-v239/ Ever wondered how they make mechanical monsters such as this?  Here’s a video documenting the construction of these giant destructors… But we also wanted a chat with the people who put these machines together and caught up with Harrison Waters who is a Technician Apprentice for Sandvik, manufacturer of these earth movers. Great to see you again Harrison. We’d like to know a bit more about your apprenticeship with Sandvik. When did it all begin? I started attending EEF’s Apprentice and Skills Centre in October 2010 as a program lead course to complete my NVQ level 2 in engineering. During this time the EEF helped find interviews for NVQ level 3 apprenticeships at various companies specialising in engineering, this was how I found out about Sandvik. So my sponsored apprenticeship with them started on the 1st of April 2011. No April’s Fool then?! So why did you choose an apprenticeship? I chose an apprenticeship over higher education for several reasons, mainly the fact of having thousands of pounds of debt and the lack of a job after graduating isn’t as appealing as earning a decent wage. So getting all my education paid for and having a job guaranteed after completing my qualifications seems a much better route to follow. Another reason being I had completed my first year of A levels and really didn’t enjoy the academic environment. I prefer a more hands on approach, which an apprenticeship provides.  That’s a fair point. So what’s been your highlight to date? I think the fact that I managed to get an apprenticeship at Sandvik Coromant is my personal highlight so far, I didn’t expect to get an apprenticeship with such a well know company. I also managed to joint win the EEF Apprentice of the Year award with Nina Cataldo, the other apprentice at Sandvik. That’s great news! Seems as though Sandvik are on to a winner with not only one award winning apprentice but two. What are the next steps for you then? After my apprenticeship I intend to complete a foundation degree in my specific field of expertise as a minimum and plan to achieve higher qualifications. Ultimately going on to become a highly qualified engineer. So an apprenticeship is something you’d recommend? I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone considering it, as you can achieve as much, if not more, than going to uni. You can complete your NVQ level 2 and 3 then move on to level 4 and 5, which can lead to a day release or full time degree at a local university with the course fee covered for you by your company or sponsor whilst also earning a very good wage. So there are many plus points over going straight to university or work.  Again, thanks for your time Harrison. Harrison is one talented apprentice who has a glittering career ahead of him. If you’re inspired to follow suit, get in touch with us. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/february/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired-v239/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/february/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired-v239/ Thu, 09 February 2012 09:15:00 21 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/january/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired/ How cool would it be to work for a company that manufacture engineering marvels such as this…   Harrison Waters does just that. Working as a Technician Apprentice for the producers of this video, Sandvik, we had a chat with Harrison to find out more about his apprenticeship. Thanks for speaking with us Harrison. So what do Sandvik do apart from making indestructible vehicles? Sandvik Coromant design, manufacture and sell a wide variety of machine tools specialising in carbide insert tools, solid carbide tools and ceramic insert tools for turning, milling, drilling and deep hole drilling. I see. I can now understand why your products have to be so tough! So what is your specific role at the company? During my time at Sandvik I will be moved through many key departments within the company to gain knowledge and experience of how the organisation works, such as R&D, Aerospace Application Centre, Sales, etc. This means I don’t have a specific role yet, but later on in my apprenticeship I will discuss with my managers which department interested me the most and which  they think I achieved the most from. Then I will specify my learning to a single role.  That’s great that you get to experience so much before deciding your future. Is that the best aspect of your apprenticeship? That and earning a good wage for my age whilst getting valuable experience. Of course. Earning whilst you’re learning is a key benefit right? The main advantage is that you can fund your life, buy things you want and even buy and insure a car with a bit of saving. All this without having to ask parents or securing huge university loans. You also have a guaranteed job, or at least a 95% chance of a job with your sponsor, if you work hard enough.    And where did your apprenticeship begin? I found my apprenticeship through EEF and I still get support from a mentor who makes site visits about every six to eight weeks, to check up on any work I’m doing towards my NVQ’s and to get feedback from my employers. One day a week is spent at EEF’s Apprentice and Skills Centre to complete my BTEC qualifications and I will later start working towards my NVQ Level 3 assessments. So in three words how would you describe your apprenticeship? Technical, Challenging and Rewarding. Thanks for speaking with us Harrison. Best of luck with everything. If you’d like to find out more about what an apprenticeship in manufacturing can offer, find out more here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/january/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2012/january/harrison-waters-–-sandvik-–-hired/ Mon, 09 January 2012 14:25:00 9 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/december/new-year,-new-you/ What will be your New Year’s resolution when Big Ben strikes midnight? To get in shape? To save up for that trip abroad? Or how about a commitment to get your future career back on track?   Even if you've just completed your first semester in further education, and it's not turning out as you had hoped, it's not too late to change your mind. Options are always available and after all, this is the rest of your life we're talking about! Why not discuss your career options with us, in January we'll be opening our doors again to a new intake of future manufacturing talent. An apprenticeship really does give you the skills, experience and qualifications manufacturing and engineering businesses need. You'll learn from the best and get paid too! What's not to like? But don’t just take our word for it. Check out the numerous success stories written by EEF apprentices of past and present. All of whom have now gone on to bigger and better things, manufacturing their own future. If you’d like to get 2012 off to a flying start, speak to our advisors now and make January the most important month of your year. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/december/new-year,-new-you/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/december/new-year,-new-you/ Tue, 20 December 2011 10:34:00 7 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/“guten-tag”-from-ryan-davies-ingham/ Here’s some pictures sent to us by Ryan Davies-Ingham from Conductix-Wampfler who’s currently with his international counterparts in Germany. Ryan, pictured at the front on the right, is visiting the company’s head office in Weil am Rhein to better his knowledge of the products that Conductix-Wampfler offer and the applications that they can be used in. Getting up close and personal with the machines that Conductix-Wampfler manufacturer, Ryan was also dispatched to a port on the border of Germany and Switzerland where the company is quite frankly integral to its operations. Working for one of the world's leading suppliers of mobile energy supply and data transmission systems, here we see Ryan visiting the dock to witness the products in action on container cranes used to pick up containers and load them onto wagons, trains or to simply stack them.  The mechanisms he’s particularly interested in include the motorised cable reels, festoon systems and an energy chain. And they don’t come much bigger than this! Ryan Davies-Ingham…apprentice and international jetsetter! If you’re interested in knowing where an apprenticeship could take you, get in touch here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/“guten-tag”-from-ryan-davies-ingham/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/“guten-tag”-from-ryan-davies-ingham/ Wed, 09 November 2011 16:14:00 24 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/the-apprentice-hired,-michael-williams-–-seven-trent-water/ When we last spoke to Mike from Severn Trent Water, he was on the verge of completing his apprenticeship and has now graduated with full honours. In fact, Mike was recently named winner of our Overall Final Year Apprentice Award and is also a contender in the Midland’s round of the EEF Manufacturing Awards Final Year Apprentice of the Year.   Achieving industry acclaim from his peers, we had a catch up with Mike for some more words of wisdom. Mike, congratulations on your award! It’s a fantastic achievement and one fully deserved. So tell us Mike, where did this all begin? I initially saw the advert for my apprenticeship in the local paper; I applied online and had to attend a preliminary interview. Upon getting through to the next round I attended an assessment centre that consisted of a more thorough interview, team exercises and also psychometric testing. I was successful at this stage and was offered my apprenticeship. The rest as they say is history! The start of a fantastic career it seems. Did you ever consider higher education? After leaving college at 18 I decided against going to university as I knew I would waste my time as I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I instead worked for two years before deciding where I wanted to go career wise and then began looking for an apprenticeship.  So you really took your time to investigate all your options before choosing an apprenticeship in the manufacturing sector. How does it feel to be part of this world renowned industry? It’s a great feeling! But at the same time there’s also a level of responsibility to maintain in order to uphold the image and the respect that the industry has gained. You’re quite right Mike. So what does the future hold for you? Well since graduating I’ve moved into an area manager’s role with Severn Trent and also just completed my engineering degree. This is a big achievement for myself as it’s been less than twelve months since I completed my apprenticeship. Looking to the future I hope to continue developing myself as a manger and progress further in the company. And we’re positive you will Mike! Finally, in three words how would you summarise your apprenticeship? Challenging, rewarding and fun. Thanks for speaking with us Mike and best of luck in the EEF Manufacturing Awards. Mike is an individual who excelled during his apprenticeship and is now well on his way to a successful career. If you have the potential to become an award winning apprentice, get in touch. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/the-apprentice-hired,-michael-williams-–-seven-trent-water/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/november/the-apprentice-hired,-michael-williams-–-seven-trent-water/ Fri, 04 November 2011 10:23:00 27 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/october/the-path-to-success/ Jeff Matthews is the Business Development Leader at EEF Apprentices and Skills and has been spearheading EEF’s apprenticeship program for 12 years. Leading from the front, Jeff and the team has literally united hundreds of companies with their perfect apprentice and in doing so, has also built the foundations of a solid career for many young men and women.   We caught up with Jeff to discuss the latest influx of engineering talent and opportunities. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Jeff. So how are this year’s apprentices looking? Extremely positive if I’m being honest! Last year we were dealing with 70 apprentices, 20 of which were part of the Government’s Program Led Apprenticeship scheme which helped unemployed individuals back into the jobs market. This year, the figures are staggering and we basically have double the amount of apprentices. We currently have 70 apprentices just starting a new semester at the EEF Apprentices and Skills Training Centre, a further 25 hoping to join in October and another 20 which we’re supporting across the UK. And even at this moment in time we’re receiving more calls from companies asking us to help them find an apprentice! Those figures are phenomenal Jeff. I bet you’re a busy man! How many of those are first time apprenticeship schemes? I believe this is a first for roughly 25-30 companies which again are on the up. We’re also seeing an increase in organisations actually reinstating their apprenticeship program after a ten year absence for example. One client, who springs to mind, recruited their last apprentice thirty years ago! So it’s great to see manufacturing organisations returning to their routes. And why do you think that is? There’s a skills shortage without a doubt. We’re hearing regular case studies of organisations struggling to find suitable candidates for specific roles within manufacturing and engineering. And it’s not that the UK has a shortage of these individuals, it’s that they’re not being taught practical engineering to complement engineering theory. Today’s employer doesn’t need just craft people. They need practical engineers with technical skills and ability and that’s what EEF deliver – that’s what companies want. Hence manufacturers are turning back to apprenticeship schemes where they can essentially grow and nurture their own unique talent with our help and support. So does that mean that qualifications are irrelevant? No, not at all. Qualifications are crucial but it’s the manner in which they’re delivered that counts. That’s why we operate the EEF Apprentices and Skills Training Centre. This Centre gives apprentices the opportunity to gain the technical qualifications, but to obtain these in an environment that allows them to get hands-on experience. On top of that, it’s not one shoe fits all. Myself and the team work closely with the individual employers to develop a training syllabus that is tailored to their own specific needs and which is taught by experienced manufacturers and engineers, not purely academics. And is this method appealing to applicants? Well we’ve had a lot of placements to fill this year and we haven’t struggled if I’m being honest. What’s surprising is the level of candidate that we’ve seen come through our door this year. The quality has certainly increased and I think that will have a direct correlation with the rise of university tuition fees. Today’s youngsters are extremely smart and they’ve realised that an apprenticeship is actually an alternative route into higher education, which has a guaranteed job at the end of it. They’re also aware that just having a degree in engineering doesn’t actually help because they’re missing those all important practical skills that you get through an apprenticeship. Today it’s about growing a technical workforce through a technical route and that’s what employers are heavily investing in. You mentioned investment. Do the employers have this funding? Apprentices are extremely cost effective, especially if you have one who is well trained. For some of the clients I deal with, the funding element is irrelevant. What’s absolutely paramount to them is the quality and skills, which at the moment you can’t buy for love or money. Our sole aim is to work together to achieve the desired end product. And I believe you also help with the selection process? That’s correct. There are actually very few areas of an apprenticeship scheme that we don’t support. Regarding the selection process, it’s my role to unearth what the company needs and what is required to achieve this role. And this involves more than simply asking questions. We literally investigate every nut and bolt by conducting site visits and really getting under the skin of the client because it’s one thing to find an apprentice, but it’s another to find an apprentice who fits perfectly into a particular department or organisation. Jeff, you’ve been really insightful. Thanks again for your time. If you could benefit from a chat with Jeff, contact us here /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/october/the-path-to-success/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/october/the-path-to-success/ Mon, 10 October 2011 16:03:00 6 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/24-hours-in-the-life-ofdan-henson,-electrolux-professional/ Dan Henson is a Technical Product Support Engineer at Electrolux Professional. When Dan’s not troubleshooting technical issues in some of the UK’s most famous kitchens, he’s in the office providing constant support for the clients who buy their unique equipment.  When we first spoke to Dan back in July, he told us about how he got started with his apprenticeship and the kind of things he's getting up to now. A few weeks in and we caught up with Dan what his typical day looks like!   Up and early at 6am. Being an apprentice is anything but  9-5, this is the real world!   A busy day ahead so going to need some instant energy. Cheerios and mug of tea to the rescue! Really is the most important meal of the day…   8am and time to jump in the motor. No morning radio for me, track 17 of the Ministry Of Sound should put me in the right mood!   Next stop…the office. Pull up, park in and it’s straight to work.   Here’s the place where I work. Spend most my time here but it’s great to get in the field some days and really get my hands dirty.   Here’s my work station. It’s always this tidy…honest.   But no time to admire my desk. Once last brew before we get down to business. It’s thirsty work this you know! Especially when the clients start calling…   And that doesn’t take long. 8.30am and the first call comes through. Troubleshooting an issue in a busy London restaurant but we soon get to the bottom of it.   Been a really busy morning, literally not stopped for a minute! Not even to take a quick pic. So lunch comes as a great relief! Noodles on the agenda today…   2pm and ready for round two. Just because I’m on lunch doesn’t mean our clients are so it’s straight back into the thick of it. A new issue lands which requires a bit more technical assistance. Thankfully I have loads of resources at my disposal and this is what I love about my job. Every day is different and I have to use all my knowledge and experience to pinpoint the problem and then solve it! And I’m very good at just that…   5.30pm and that’s the end of play. Time to jump back in the motor, get home and enjoy the rest of my day. Good times! We've got loads more '24 hours in the life of...' stories coming soon so make sure you bookmark the Apprentice blog network to hear from all of our apprentices as they put their apprenticeships into practice. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/24-hours-in-the-life-ofdan-henson,-electrolux-professional/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/24-hours-in-the-life-ofdan-henson,-electrolux-professional/ Mon, 26 September 2011 14:40:00 5 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/nina-cataldo-–-sandvik-–-hired/ Nina Cataldo is a Technical Apprentice at Sandvik, the world’s leading producer of tools for turning, milling and drilling. The group makes monsters like this…   And mechanical giants like this…   We caught up with Nina to see what life’s like inside the belly of these beasts! Great to meet you Nina. So tell us, why did you choose an apprenticeship? Well essentially I wanted to do something different; I didn’t want to follow what everyone else my age was doing. I wanted to challenge myself in the working world and also go against the typical female stereotype by choosing engineering which is a very male dominated industry. An apprenticeship was my way to continue learning and bettering my education whilst at the same time earning money and not becoming tied down with student debt. Yes of course. Student debt is on the rise so I imagine earning whilst you’re learning makes you the envy of all your friends? There’s certainly more freedom. You’re not having to rely on anyone else, you earn your own money and don’t get tied down with debt. Plus it helped me buy my beloved classic Rover Mini! It’s only a week younger than me you know! Great to see that cash is going towards a good cause! So did you ever consider going to university? No, I never really wanted to go to uni. I felt there was no point because I know people who have gone, got the grades but are now struggling to find a job because they have no hands- on experience. I’ve now got this experience and in the near future hope to start and complete my national BTEC course, my level 3 NVQ and then go on to university with a bit of luck. That’s brilliant! Seems you have the best of both worlds. So are you training with EEF at the moment? Correct, and I really appreciate the work and input that the people at EEF  put into helping me get my apprenticeship. If it wasn’t for EEF and the support they gave me, I would have never gotten this opportunity. So it’s something you’d recommend? I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone! My advice would be to make sure an apprenticeship is something you really want to do because it is a fulltime profession and will probably last a few years. It’s certainly not school, you can’t just turn up and not be willing to work. Sound advice Nina and well done on everything so far. We’ll check back on you soon. Nina is someone excelling within the manufacturing industry. She’s proof that it’s not just for blokes and if you’ve been inspired to follow in her steps, get in touch with us for more information. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/nina-cataldo-–-sandvik-–-hired/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/nina-cataldo-–-sandvik-–-hired/ Thu, 22 September 2011 18:11:00 24 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/hired-michael-williams-severn-trent-water/ Severn Trent Water serves over 8 million customers across the heart of the UK, stretching from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from mid-Wales to the East Midlands. Mike Williams recently completed his apprenticeship which he began in 2006 and is now responsible for 110 sites! We took time out of Mike’s busy schedule to ask him a few questions.   Mike, thanks for having us. So September 2006, you took the plunge into an apprenticeship. Why was that? Having left college at 18 with two A-levels I worked in numerous jobs for two years before deciding I wanted to learn a skill in engineering. I also wanted to better myself and gain qualifications to enable me to do well in my career. You can’t say fairer than that Mike. So where did it all begin? At first I was an instrumentation apprentice which meant I looked after all of the instrumentation, control and electrical systems on clean water treatment works. I am now an Area Manager, responsible for 110 sites which are a mixture of sewage treatment works and sewage pumping stations, I oversee the running of these sites both operationally and from a maintenance perspective. And what was the best thing about being an apprentice? The experience that is gained from on the job training mixed with the day release college courses are to me the best method of learning as I learnt my trade whilst at the same time gaining professional qualifications. A big incentive is that you are also getting paid to be at college! Tell us a bit more about earning whilst you’re learning… The main advantage is that you have money in your pocket whilst also being at college. I was also able to do many things in my own time that I would not have been able to do if I was at college with a part time job. So an apprenticeship is something you’d recommend? YES! An apprenticeship gives you the best of both forms of learning; on the job training and academic study. If you are lucky enough to get an apprenticeship don’t waste it! Take every opportunity you can but also work as hard at college as you do when you’re in work! Both parts of the apprenticeship are important! That’s great advice Mike. Thanks for your help. Mike took full advantage of his apprenticeship and is now reaping the rewards. Check out all the ways in which apprentices are learning valuable skills at our apprentice section . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/hired-michael-williams-severn-trent-water/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/hired-michael-williams-severn-trent-water/ Wed, 14 September 2011 10:20:00 11 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/gorvinder-precision-micro-profile/ We’re lucky enough to spend some time with Gorvinder Rai who’s an apprentice at Precision Micro. Precision Micro is one of the largest specialist metal component manufacturers in Europe, innovating, developing and utilising a unique combination of manufacturing processes. In essence, these guys put the creative flair into the manufacturing industry. Great to meet you Gorvinder. So tell us about your apprenticeship? Well I started at Precision Micro in March of this year and I’m based in the quality department, but also part of the innovation team, so I’m shared across two teams. They certainly keep me busy! Superb! What kind of things do you get up to then? Basically Precision Micro is a chemical engineering company and we etch images into pieces of metal. For the Quality Team I measure and test finished products, sometimes writing the first production reports. There’s also the Innovation Department which is all about jobs of the future. So when a new job comes in, we trial run the product to find the correct tooling and essentially have to follow the job through to the end. I control it at every stage which means I’m basically the ‘boss’ of certain aspects. That’s amazing, certainly a lot of responsibility. So why did you choose an apprenticeship? Did you consider university? The main reason behind choosing an apprenticeship instead of going to uni was down to me gaining a better understanding of engineering, working with engineers on a regular basis plus by doing this I feel I have improved my skills. But I’ll also be going to uni once my apprenticeship is complete – it’s the best of bothworlds.worlds. And what’s the best part of apprentice life? For me, working with a superb group of engineers day in and day out, that is really priceless. Also learning new things every day, the more knowledge you have the better. That’s great. Any advice for someone considering an apprenticeship in manufacturing? If you want to learn and have a great future, then an apprenticeship is the way forward. I would hugely recommend one and EEF are a rare engineering training provider with loads of brilliant opportunities! Thanks for your time Gorvinder, greatly appreciated. Gorvinder is just one apprentice carving out his future. If you’re interested in finding out what an apprenticeship can offer you, check out our pages where Gorvinder and many other apprentices are sharing their stories of life on an apprenticeship. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/gorvinder-precision-micro-profile/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/september/gorvinder-precision-micro-profile/ Wed, 07 September 2011 09:59:00 8 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-–-chris-morris/ It’s been a long time since Chris Morris first joined Electrolux Professional as an apprentice back in 1995. We had a chat with Chris to reminisce on old times… Chris, thanks for joining us today. If I can take you back to 1995, why did you choose to do an apprenticeship? It’s fair to say that I wasn’t an academic and I left school with poor qualifications. Because of this higher education wasn’t an option unless I did resits and my parents were adamant that I secured a trade to fall back on. An apprenticeship offered me an alternative route and I found Electrolux Professional off my own back. The rest they say is history. So what has happened since then? Well I completed my apprenticeship in 1999 and naturally came away with the qualification I wanted but also a fulltime role at Electrolux. I was originally aiming to become an electrician for the company but now actually work on the gas side of things as a Senior Product Support Technician. I’m not so hands-on these days but coming up through the ranks from an apprenticeship to eventually be responsible for supporting service and sales with technical information and carry out engineer training is a great achievement I feel. Having gone through the whole process, what advice would you give to people considering an apprenticeship or perhaps considering taking on an apprentice of their own? I think these words of wisdom apply to both when I say that an apprenticeship is a huge challenge! If you think being an apprentice means being the ‘tea-boy or girl’ then you’re completely wrong. Apprenticeships are not easy and should no way be considered as ‘just a job’. The company is investing time and money to train you up so you really have to prove your worth but if you’re committed to making something of your future – then grab it with both hands. So it’s fair to assume that if you had the chance to rewrite history…you’d make the same choice? I underachieved at school and it wasn’t because I was any less intelligent than those who secured high grades but simply because I struggled with the academic environment. The apprenticeship gave me the same learning environment but the opportunity to prove myself in a different capacity. I really excelled at this and haven’t looked back since. Well done Chris, you’re a great example to future apprentices. Chris’ success illustrates not only the opportunities available to an apprentice, but also the value that someone of his calibre brings to organisation. If you’d like to explore apprenticeships further, get in touch with us here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-–-chris-morris/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-–-chris-morris/ Mon, 01 August 2011 09:52:00 6 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-dan-henson/ I’d like to introduce you to a good friend of ours, Dan Henson. This 20 year-old hot shot from Birmingham is currently in the middle of an apprenticeship at Electrolux Professional who are basically the Rolls-Royce of professional kitchens. Don’t believe me? Well just ask the many celeb chefs they cater for plus the mind-blowing Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi! Thanks for speaking to us Dan. So, two years in...any regrets about your decision at this stage? Not at all! I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone considering it as an option. There is so much choice in career paths once you’ve completed your qualifications as well. I wouldn’t change anything and I can guarantee you won’t regret it! Great to hear! So if you had to describe your apprenticeship in three words, they would be? Best Decision Ever. EEF were also really helpful as they were able to help secure me this apprenticeship. Obviously they don’t do all the hard work, but they do open the doors that lead on to great opportunities such as my apprenticeship at Electrolux. They take away a lot of unnecessary stress which I really appreciated. Well you can’t argue with that Dan! So what do you get up to at Electrolux? Well I’m a Technical Product Support Engineer so my core role is providing technical support to engineers out in the field. There’s also getting out on the road if issues haven’t been resolved by one of our service partners and also carrying out training courses for our service partners to learn about our products, repairing them and installing, etc. So does that mean you’ve been to loads of posh restaurants? Well being involved in the commercial catering industry we come across so many different situations all the time. We deal with quite a few celebrity chefs, not to name drop, but for example last week I was at Glynn Purnell’s restaurant doing some work in his kitchen. I was also recently doing an Electrolux promotion at the Williams F1 headquarters in Oxford. This meant doing some work there over the weekend, however, as a little treat I got to sit and watch the F1 Grand Prix there on a big screen with the Williams family!  And I bet earning whilst you’re learning is alright too? What is better than learning new interesting skills, and being paid for it? I’ve got so many friends who have gone to university to continue further education and the trouble is they’re not guaranteed a job or earning whilst they are there. In reality they just end up with a lot of debt. When they finish their degree, I will be fully qualified in a profession earning a decent salary. I’m not saying university is a bad option, but if you are looking at learning new interesting skills and like me want to start earning some cash along the way, an apprenticeship is definitely the way forward! Superb advice Dan! Keep up the good work and we’ll talk again soon. After speaking to Dan…I’m even doubting my own career choices! If you’re at a crossroads in your career, you can find loads of advice and guidance by getting in touch here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-dan-henson/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-dan-henson/ Thu, 28 July 2011 10:16:00 7 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-ryan-davies-ingham/ Apprenticeships in UK manufacturing are amazing opportunity. But don’t just take our word for it. 20 year-old Ryan Davies-Ingham isn’t just one of the UK’s hottest prospects; he’s the 2010 EEF North West Regional First Year Apprentice of the Year. On his way to becoming a top engineer, Ryan is part of a team at Conductix-Wampfler, a global organisation making strides in data and power transfer via various technologies. So Ryan, the last two years have been quite a ride right? What put you on this path? I chose to do an apprenticeship as I saw it as a good opportunity to gain work experience and skills alongside industry recognised qualifications. Can’t argue with that. And I bet earning whilst you’re learning isn’t bad either? Definitely! The advantage is having a steady income to help with other areas of life. My wage has helped me to pay for and run a car which I use to get to work every day. A steady income means you can also take on monthly bills, mobile phones for instance, life’s little perks, etc. Great stuff. So what kind of things do you get up to at Conductix-Wampfler? I’m basically learning and gaining experience whilst supporting the engineering function of the company. I get involved with creating designs and drawings and often operate in the factory carrying out machining work, general assembly of products and testing of products. Seems like you’re doing a lot! What’s the best bit? Simply the amount of knowledge and support I receive off other members of staff in the company. Everybody in the company is willing to spend time to help me further my knowledge and improve my skills. So I guess it’s something you’d recommend? You have the opportunity to gain real working skills and experiences whilst obtaining qualifications that will improve your career prospects for the rest of your life and all this is happening whilst earning a wage, which is simply amazing! And finally, do you have plenty of support available? Naturally the company is amazing but EEF has also been great. They regularly check-in on at me at the workplace and see how I’m getting on. They’re constantly supporting me and I know they’re there if I have any questions. They basically ensure I’m looked after even though it isn’t necessary because Conductix-Wampfler is a fantastic place to work. But it’s great to see that they look out for the welfare of apprentices. Well keep up the good work Ryan! We’ll be sure to check back on you soon. Ryan is reaping all of the rewards on offer through an apprenticeship scheme. If you’d like to do the same, be sure to check out the opportunities on offer and get in touch here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-ryan-davies-ingham/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hired-ryan-davies-ingham/ Wed, 27 July 2011 10:45:00 4 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hiring-simon-mallett/ As the old saying goes…if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Simon Mallett is one man who respects that saying more than others, being the UK Operations Manager at Electrolux Professional. Responsible for Product Support at this global organisation, Electrolux Professional is the only company able to create complete, high performance kitchens combining best-in-class products with outstanding customer support. A bold statement indeed and one that no doubt gives Simon sleepless nights when managing his team and looking for his next apprentice. We caught up with Simon to see what gets him hot under the collar… Simon, thanks for speaking to us today. So Electrolux Professional has operated an apprenticeship scheme for some time now. Why is that? That’s right, we’ve had a number of talented young people come through the door over the years and the standard just keeps getting better and better. For us, it’s imperative that our engineers know our products inside-out because we operate to such a high standard. We could by all means simply hire a qualified and experienced engineer but we much prefer an apprenticeship which gives us the opportunity to mould fresh new talent. So would you say that for Electrolux Professional, an apprentice is more valuable to your team than a university graduate for instance? Yes, without a doubt. We provide an extremely bespoke service that prides itself on quality. We don’t want employees who have been taught to different standards, we much prefer to craft our own technicians and that’s the USP of an apprenticeship. University couldn’t teach what we teach them… I suppose you look for raw talent then? Are there any specific traits that you search for over others? At this stage in their lives it’s all about the passion to succeed and there’s plenty of it out there. It’s spotting that hunger to learn and develop. Enthusiasm is paramount but also flexibility. We certainly challenge even our most junior of apprentices so they have to be committed and thankfully all of ours are. On top of that, we have worked with EEF for 12 years and the quality of candidates they source is excellent. The apprentice and training service they offer us is second to none so we’re guaranteed the goods. And finally, what do your apprentices go on to do after graduating? Well we must be doing something right because most of them are still here and we’ve been taking on apprentices for over ten years now! We have a very loyal group and it’s now a workforce that we simply couldn’t replace. Thanks for your time Simon. Electrolux Professional is just one company reaping the rewards of an apprenticeship scheme. If you think your company could benefit from some fresh new talent, then  get in touch with us here . /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hiring-simon-mallett/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/hiring-simon-mallett/ Mon, 25 July 2011 00:00:00 9 /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/eef-helping-manufacture-your-future/ Hello and welcome to the first instalment of EEF's apprentice blog! So who are EEF? Well basically we're an organisation dedicated to the future of manufacturing. Everything we do is designed to help manufacturing businesses evolve, innovate and compete in a fast-changing world. The UK is the sixth largest manufacturing nation and the industry is responsible for 55% of all UK exports. Let’s put things into perspective, the UK is the sixth largest manufacturing nation and the industry is responsible for 55% of all UK exports. Manufacturing is huge! And that is the size of your apprentice opportunity. With a global reputation for quality that dates back to the start of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, it’s our responsibility to enhance that reputation which can be partly grown through investing in the next generation of manufacturing apprentices. This website is designed to not only unlock the door to your future, but to also guide and direct employers in their search to find aspiring raw talent. The opportunities are endless and the support network is available if you’re considering an apprenticeship in manufacturing. For the latest roles check out our Apprenticeship Page (LINK) and don’t forget to check back here for all the latest news and interviews from current apprentices and special guest bloggers. /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/eef-helping-manufacture-your-future/ /be-an-apprentice/our-stories-the-blog-network/blog/2011/july/eef-helping-manufacture-your-future/ Sun, 24 July 2011 15:23:00