Cailum

Why did you want to come to UTCN?

UTCN was new when I started. I had attended another 6th Form previously and did not achieved the grades I needed for further study. It didn’t have the opportunities of UTCN and if I’m honest, I was immature, struggled with direction and didn’t know what I wanted to go on to do, but thought university was my only option. I was lucky that my parents informed me of UTCN and convinced me to try it out, as my grandad was an engineer. 

How have you found your apprenticeship at Warren Services?

Warren Services is a very unique company and I always feel supported and encouraged to trial my ideas and go with them. I have been given the opportunity to learn all trades as well as design, which allows me to expand my knowledge and ideas. The degree level apprenticeship takes longer than you might expect, and the first year is difficult to manage the physical and mental work, as well as managing time effectively, but it is all worth it! I will admit that seeing my friends at university, out and partying was hard at times, but when they told me what they were learning and I realised that what I was doing was much more complex and hands on, it has been worth while. 

How did UTCN help with the skills you need to work for Warren Services? 

I think you can be hyper focused and academic naturally, but for some this takes time and work. I feel like the work experience aspect of UTCN, really helped me to see many different careers and opportunities that I didn’t know and was never told previously are available.

 I actually didn’t like UTCN when I first started as I felt like I had failed with my previous educational choices, but seeing the liaison groups that UTCN work with in the main hall everyday, really motivated me and helped me realise that these careers are achievable. I met Warren Services during a tour at UTCN and I approached them as I knew what I wanted to do, and they allowed me to complete my degree while working with them. 

UTCN has amazing facilities and the hand skills I gained by using the equipment, such as lathes and welding and the lessons that allowed me to get the work experience and practical skills and really develop the fundamental skills, as well as the basics of being able to do technical drawings before CAD (electrical computer aided design) and it’s been very useful to be able to have both skills, which I didn’t value at the time. Having teachers with real industry experience as well as teaching really helped me get a good understanding of all aspects within the engineering world. 

Any tips for students currently studying at UTCN? 

• Get out there and try something new! Don’t be afraid to fail, as if you learn from it, then it’s not a failure at all. 
• Have the confidence to say you don’t know, as you don’t need to know everything and nobody will expect you to. 
• Fight for what you want and believe in. You always have time to make things right and be where you want to be. 
• Failing your GCSE’s and Post-16 options are not actually a failure, but a delay. If you have the right mindset and put in the work, then you can turn things around.