Engineering a future
George combines college with work
THOUSANDS of eager teenagers finish school for ever tomorrow and start the huge challenge of planning their futures.
For some it means waiting for exam results in August to decide whether university or college is right for them, while others will start apprenticeships or other vocational courses, or begin the hunt for jobs. Whatever they choose – it’s not easy.
This time last year, George Cooper, 17, from Tamworth in Staffordshire, had just finished his GCSEs and was desperately trying to work out what to do.
Plan A was an apprenticeship and Plan B was college to do some electrical training. He managed to pull off Plan A and is now well on his way to becoming a maintenance engineer at the Dräxlmaier Group which makes car components.
Has life changed in just one year?
You could say that. A year ago I didn’t know where I was heading. I knew I wanted to do something practical and was keen to get out of school. I got in touch with local training provider EEF, did their online quiz and then was given a list of employers who sponsored the apprenticeships.
I had done my Year 10 work experience with Dräxlmaier and decided to try them. I was nervous when I got offered an interview but I was able to talk about a volunteering programme I had just done with National Citizen Service, and that helped to boost my confidence. The apprenticeship was dependent on my exam results but I started work in September.
What do you do?
I’m currently an apprentice maintenance engineer. I spent most of the last year at college. During college holidays I work on site with the maintenance team and get to put all my classroom learning into good use. It’s our job to keep production moving. It is so different at college compared to school. I’m learning stuff I know is useful – not like sitting there learning a poem and wondering how that has anything to do with my life.
What do you like best about your job?
I get a real buzz out of seeing how things work and how I can fix them. I love how dashboards look in cars with all the knobs and dials. It’s interesting to be a part of.
Where do you see your future?
On a practical level it is great to have some more money in my pocket and I’m sorting out driving lessons. Workwise – the future looks great. At the end of my second year I will have some BTECs then spend the third working on an HNC and possibly a foundation degree.
I’m also looking to be an ambassador for apprenticeships and will be at Worldskills in Birmingham in November telling other young people why it makes so much sense to do the same as me.
WHERE TO BAG AN APPRENTICESHIP
We have found 29,745 apprenticeships and traineeships. At getingofar.gov.uk there are 21,634 apprenticeships ranging from a digital marketing apprentice in the City of London to a childcare apprentice in Plymouth.
We also found 1,452 traineeships aimed at those who are not quite ready to become an apprentice, whether academically or due to confidence.
At Not Going to Uni we spotted 5,774 apprenticeships. In Scotland we found 755 opportunities at apprenticeships. scot and another 130 at apprenticeshipsinscotland.com.
CONTACTS
Apprenticeships and traineeships – getingofar.gov.uk
National Careers Service – nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Not Going to Uni has information on apprenticeships, interview and CV Tips – notgoingtouni.co.uk
EEF (the voice of UK manufacturing and engineering) – eef.org.uk
National Citizen Service – ncsthechallenge.org
Dräxlmaier Group – uk.draexlmaier. com/careers/
Worldskills – worldskillsuk.org
WHO CAN LEAVE SCHOOL WHEN?
In England you can leave school on the last Friday in June provided you will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. You must then stay in some form of education or training until you are 18. The rules are slightly different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In England you can apply for a 16 to 19 bursary fund (gov.uk/1619-bursaryfund) and in Scotland, NI and Wales you can get an Education Maintenance Allowance (gov.uk/education-maintenance-allowance-ema).
I work on site and put my learning to good use