"I am currently in my 3rd year of my apprenticeship, studying at Belfast Met while working in the CNC workshop at School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University. I have always been a hands-on person and, from a young age, enjoyed taking things apart and fixing them to understand how they worked. This interest naturally grew into a desire to pursue a career in engineering.

After finishing school, I initially planned to continue studying full-time, but when I discovered the apprenticeship opportunity at Queen’s, I knew it was the right path for me. It allows me to apply practical skills every day while continuing my education, which suits the way I learn best.

In the workshop, I spend my time designing and manufacturing components, practising my CAD and CAM skills, and supporting the team with various tasks. When I am not working on jobs, I use the time to practise, learn new techniques, and shadow colleagues to build my knowledge. I also help with demonstrations for students at the start of the academic year.

I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship so far and have learned a lot, both technically and professionally. I would strongly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who wants hands-on experience, real-world skills, and an alternative to full-time education."

"I started my apprenticeship in September of 2023 so far, I have been working at the School of Mathematics and Physics and I am really enjoying being able to make stuff from scratch and learning things about engineering from my mentors. A project that I’m working on at the minute is partitioning a laser room for the smart nano lab using framework that holds laser resistant curtains and it is very interesting. I’m looking forward to developing my knowledge of engineering and improve on my engineering skills for the machinery I use."