ICOM celebrates apprenticeships for ‘National Apprenticeship Week’ #NAW2015 National Apprenticeship Week (NAW2015) - takes place from 9-13 March 2015, and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Supporting the event, the Industrial and Commercial Energy Association, ICOM, will be showcasing a series of real life apprenticeship career profiles. The profiles demonstrate how an apprenticeship can provide; qualifications, career progression, excitement and crucially the experience and opportunity to work in a real life environment.
Meet Robert. Name: Robert Griffin Type of apprenticeship: Advanced apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering Year started/completed: 2006-2008 Current position: Service Office Manager 1.
What encouraged you to do an apprenticeship in your chosen field?
I chose to do an apprenticeship over university as I valued the fact that job experience and hands on training were just as valuable as academia. Electrical engineering was my choice as I was interested in the complexities and logic involved.
2. What are the most important skills your apprenticeship has taught you? One of the most important skills that I have learnt during my apprenticeship is that if you are unsure with something then ask, people are almost always willing to help and share knowledge. I feel that this is a good life skill as no matter what position I may be in further on in my career, there will always be someone that has ‘been there, done that’, able to help and save valuable resource. 3.
What opportunities has your apprenticeship provided you with?
Directly following on from my apprenticeship I was given the opportunity to do a foundation degree in electrical and electronic engineering. I completed this at distinction level and I am now studying a BSc in Engineering Management. Within the work place completing my apprenticeship let me to a middle management role within the technical department. During this time I was given my own product to be responsible for and successfully managed the transition from German supplier to be installed running and service in the UK, compliant with all UK regulations. Following from this I was then given scope to work on a new product which essentially was a revitalisation of an old product to meet market requirements. This has seen over a 100% increase in sales of this original product. 4. Could you describe what your typical working day entails? In my current position I am responsible for the internal Hoval Service department. This means that I manage winning orders, the co-ordination of
appropriate engineers and components to site and the reporting of all completed work. This means that I have targeted budgets and growth that must be achieved to ensure strong progression. 5. What has been your proudest achievement or highlight in your working career? My proudest achievement during my working career so far was winning Apprentice of the Year at the H&V news awards in 2009. One of my proudest accomplishments was seeing a product that I had designed, TopGas Cascade, go from the drawing board all the way to the glossy sales leaflet and then operating on a live project. I am now also seeing the benefits that this project has developed, the increase of sales and new customers that it has brought in. 6. What advice would you give to young people unsure about an apprenticeship in your industry? I would advise anyone questioning an apprenticeship that it is very valuable for the experience gained whilst at the same time getting comparable qualifications to others who attend college or university. 7.
Any other comments?
Finding the right employer to join is very important. It is imperative that the employer selected must be willing to teach and help the apprentice develop in their interested field.
Ends For further information contact: -Jo, jo@eua.org.uk, 01926 513728. www.eua.org.uk www.icom.org.uk Note to editors: The Industrial & Commercial Energy Association, ICOM, is a member organisation working to engage in all aspects of energy related business activities, working closely with government, non-governmental offices, research establishments and industry trade associations towards a greener future. ICOM is a division of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA).