Louis

Why did you come to UTCN?

Being a lover of cars, bikes and all things automotive, I knew I wanted  to follow my passion for engineering once I'd finished my GCSEs. After receiving a leaflet for UTCN from my schools careers advisor, and looking at the website, I immediately decided that UTCN would be a perfect fit for me. I didn't even come for a tour until after receiving an offer!

What did you like about UTCN?

Looking back on the past 2 years where I studied maths, physics and engineering, and now being able to compare that to many of my apprentice colleagues, I definitely feel like I've had an experience like no other. Having the ability to combine A-levels with an engineering technical is extremely rewarding and certainly helps long-term with apprenticeships, university and full-time work.

Why did you apply for your apprenticeship?

I had the idea to apply for a degree apprenticeship after hearing about a previous student's success with one and so, after some research, I applied to the APEP degree apprenticeship with Jaguar Land Rover, following my ambition to go into automotive engineering and to earn a degree. They're incredible opportunities which certainly shouldn't be overlooked, and whilst they may not be the easiest of routes, they are certainly very rewarding.

What do you do in your apprenticeship?

Now being a manufacturing apprentice at JLR, I predominantly work at the Solihull site where various range rover products are made, my main role is in tracking and managing issues raised during production and then ensuring proper procedures are followed to resolve them. Alongside this, I sometimes travel to different sites to explore and learn about different processes, so far this has included simulation rigs, 3D printing labs, test track areas, among others.

What advice would you give current UTCN students?

If I had one piece of advice for UTCN students considering their opportunities post A-levels, it's not to be afraid to be ambitious. Degree apprentices may not be the easiest route to take, but the fact is that anyone can do one. So long as you have a good work ethic and are willing to face challenges, you will end up where you want to be.