“My name is Jamie, and I am CNC Programmer & CAD Engineer at Bradbury Group. I started my full-time position at the company after completing my apprenticeship and gaining a NVQ Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering & Technical Support, in 2017.
I have always been interested in pursuing a career in engineering, and from the age of 16 I applied for part time job roles that enabled me to start understanding the relevant skills and knowledge needed within the industry. I was able to carry my interest for this sector throughout my studies with North Lindsey College, where I gained a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering. However, it was in my second year of college when I decided that an apprenticeship would be better suited to me, as I wanted the experience of being able to study whilst being in a working environment.
After starting my apprenticeship and gaining my BTEC, I was able to work full time at Bradbury with only a few hours at college needed each week. This allowed me to earn money, learn valuable communication and problem-solving skills, whilst attaining the relevant qualifications.
Since completing my NVQ, my level of responsibilities as a CNC programmer sees me using a variety of software on a daily basis to engineer our products. This can include radan tooling for the Trumpf machine, metal studio and metal nest for the Salvagnini machine and also Solidworks, which we use to model each of our products before they go into production. I also help to maintain a high level of quality and accuracy within the engineering department by checking over my colleagues work before it is submitted into the next stage of production.
Thanks to my apprenticeship I have been able to progress much faster in my job role, giving me the confidence to continue in my career, either through a higher level of apprenticeship or attending a part-time university course.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an apprentice and would highly recommend it to anybody who is considering a different route to college or university, or even if you just want a change in career! Through an apprenticeship you get the experience of gaining valuable qualifications whilst expanding your knowledge and skill set within your chosen sector.”
