Modern Apprentice is flying high!

Citation

(2001), "Modern Apprentice is flying high!", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773aab.021

Modern Apprentice is flying high!

Modern Apprentice is flying high!

Keywords: Triumph Air Repair, Brooklands College, Engineering, Apprenticeship

It has come to AEAT's notice that 19-year-old Paul Buckmaster (Plate 5) has been given a flying start to his career in aeronautical engineering by his employer, Triumph Air Repair (Europe) Ltd – based in Alton, UK – and training provider, Brooklands College.

Paul, who went to Perins Community School in Airesford, left school at 16 after getting his GCSEs.

Plate 5 Paul Buckmaster

Paul told us: "I wasn't really interested in staying on and doing A-levels as I knew that I wanted to go into a technical, rather than an academic field. I went to Alton College for a year and did a GNVQ in Engineering. After I finished, I realised that I had left it too late to apply for any of the engineering apprenticeships which I wanted to do. I knew I needed to start working, so I applied to Triumph as a workshop assistant. Luckily for me, they offered me the job as an apprentice instead!"

While working at Triumph, who repair and overhaul auxiliary power units and constant speed drives for commercial aeroplanes, Paul is also doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering through Brooklands College in Weybridge.

The Modern Apprenticeship in Aeronautical Engineering is made up of a number of different parts. Paul began with an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 2 in Engineering Maintenance and has since moved on to an NVQ Level 3 in Component Maintenance (Mechanical). While doing the NVQs, Paul has both attended weekly lectures at Brooklands College and been assessed on the job by an NVQ Assessor from the College.

Paul explained: "I am currently working as a technician in one of the workshops at Triumph. I work with an inspector to dismantle, overhaul, rebuild and test auxiliary power units for commercial aeroplanes.Once any work has been completed, I have to write up reports about what I have done and these are used as part of my portfolio of work for my NVQ."

As well as the courses for the NVQ, Paul has also been working towards a City and Guilds qualification in Aeronautical Engineering Competencies. This has included some units of the professional qualification, Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR) 66 in Electronics and Gas Turbine Propulsion Systems.

Paul said: "I have really enjoyed doing the Modern Apprenticeship. At Alton College and then at Brooklands College, I have learned all about engineering theory. But working at Triumph has allowed me to put it all into practice in the real world."

We understand that Paul's work has so impressed his employer and training provider that he has recently won Brooklands College's Student of Outstanding Achievement award.

Paul said: "I received the award, which is known as the Governor's Award, at an awards ceremony at Brooklands College last September."

Triumph report that they are very happy with the progress Paul has made during his time with them.

"Paul originally applied at Triumph for a position of workshop assistant", said Gary Smith, general manager at Triumph. "However, looking at his CV, we realised that he had potential and offered him the job of apprentice instead!

"We are very glad that we took him on. He gets on well with the other staff and has proved a real asset to the company."

Gary informs us that he hopes that, once he has completed his apprenticeship, Paul will become a works inspector at Triumph Air. "An inspector controls the jobs which come into the workshop. It is up to him to manage the entire overhaul and repair process of the power units. By the time Paul has completed his apprenticeship, he will have both the knowledge and the experience to be able to do the job and we hope that that will be what he moves on to."

Surrey TEC funds work-based NVQs for 16-23-year-old employees via its Skills Generation programme, which includes National Traineeships and Modern Apprenticeships.

Details available from: TEC Information Helpline. Tel: +44 (0)1483 750999.