Mechatronics Engineering Apprentice

I am a third year Mechatronics Engineering Apprentice. I chose to work at Babcock in the Land Defence business due to the huge variety of work, no day is ever the same!

After completing my A levels and a quick stint at university, I decided to make a career change to engineering, as the role has always been something close to my heart. My Dad works in the engineering sector as did both my Grandparents, so I have always been surrounded by engineers, without realising that one day they would become my career role models.

I have spent the past three years working towards my Level 3 Technical Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, which I have just completed. During this time we spend 3 week blocks at college, learning both theory and practical skills needed, and completing the assignments and assessments necessary to qualify. We then spend the rest of the time at work, putting our hard earned knowledge to the test, working on various different military platforms, from Challenger tanks to Land Rovers, the variety is endless.

My favourite part of the job is definitely the opportunities we are given to take part in additional courses, pushing ourselves to go above and beyond what we thought we were capable of. The opportunities to thrive are endless, from running projects on site to being nominated for nationally recognised awards. It is also so rewarding to see the work we do go on to make a difference in the world, being able to see that everything we do is worth it.

I feel that every day I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone, whether that be with working on a completely new type of vehicle or visiting other sites to talk about what we do differently. The hardest thing I have done to date was to represent the company at a parliament event, showcasing to MPs just how important apprenticeship schemes really are. As someone who suffers with anxiety, this was not an easy feat, but I am glad to work with a company that helps me push my boundaries.