Type of Apprenticeship: Level 2 Engineering Operative
Start date: September 2021
End date: December 2022
Which Apprenticeship are you currently completing/have you completed? Which department are you doing this in?
I am currently working towards a Level 2 Engineering Apprenticeship in the Department of Particle Physics, where I help in the testing of sensors and electronic modules for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
Did you go straight into your Apprenticeship from school?
I went to secondary school and completed my GCSEs. From there, I progressed straight on to this apprenticeship.
Why did you choose to do an Apprenticeship?
I knew that I wanted to work and gain practical experience, but at the same time, I wanted qualifications as well. Once I knew the different options available for me, an apprenticeship with on the job training sounded perfect.
How did you find out about your Apprenticeship?
I had been looking for apprenticeships for nearly a year, but I couldn’t find any that matched my exact interests. As soon as I saw this opening on Gov.uk, I knew that I had to apply.
What do you plan to do next?
At the moment, I am using the robot microscope to measure the positions and shifts of electronic modules on the ring that will go inside the Large Hadron Collider, I then plot the results using MATLAB, a programming platform which I am learning to use. I am also being trained how to bond wires, and hope to be able to one day bond a real module. I would like to complete this course and work towards a Level 3 qualification.
What advice would you give someone who might be thinking about an Apprenticeship?
If the subject and practical work matches your interest and you would still like to gain a qualification, go for it.
