I am a building services engineer currently working for Steven Hunt & Associates, a mechanical and engineering consultancy based in Liverpool. I have worked for the company for coming up to seven years now, and I joined the company as an apprentice as soon as I finished school at the age of 16.
An apprenticeship seemed like the ideal route for me as it offered the chance to gain some onsite experience and I was able to learn how to actually perform in my chosen career path, whilst still attaining the academic qualifications required.
I didn’t have to sit in a classroom for hours, but was able to get involved in projects and work directly with all of the different disciplines that make a building come to life. This experience has proven to be invaluable over the last few years and in kick starting my career.
By the time I came out of my apprenticeship I felt confident to step up and start performing as a fully competent engineer, which I feel would not have been possible without the experience gained during my time in the office and on site.
The apprenticeship has also allowed me to establish relationships with my peers and I have learnt what it takes to be part of a team.
I would 100% encourage any young people out there who are considering the possibility of going down the apprenticeship route to do so. It encourages you to be independent from a young age by offering you the chance to earn a wage in your chosen career path whilst also achieving academic qualifications.
An apprenticeship is this and so much more, It equips you with social skills, communication skills and gives you real employability.
During my apprenticeship I was sponsored through my ONC, HNC & HND in Building Service Engineering by my employer, Steven Hunt & Associates. Since completing my time as an apprentice I have also now had the opportunity to further my academic studies with the company. I am now on my final year at Liverpool John Moores University, and am now also running my own projects at Steven Hunt & Associates. I felt ready for this kind of responsibility a lot earlier than what would have been possible with an academic only route, so the apprenticeship scheme has fast tracked my career ands helped me secure a position within a respected company.