This week we are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week!
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills and start a successful career. At CAN, we pride ourselves on our fantastic apprenticeship programme, which gives people a chance to work towards a career in Engineering. We aim to onboard two apprentices every year.
The Engineering Design and Draughtsperson Apprenticeship takes four years to complete. The apprenticeships begin in September with a BTEC Engineering Diploma. In the first year, the apprentices will undertake full-time training at Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA). Once they pass the first year, their second and third year will include a combination of learning. They will learn the Engineering Standards at SETA, carry out work-based learning at CAN and pursue further education, working towards their Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mechanical Engineering.
In their final year, they will complete their Engineering Standards, carry out work-based learning at CAN and continue with further education. Once completed, they will be promoted to an Assistant Mechanical Design Engineer and finally a Mechanical Design Engineer.
We spoke with Charlie Collings and Fred Wood, two of our former apprentices, they share their experiences from when they were apprentices:
Charlie Collings
“I completed my HNC and HND in General Engineering during my 4-year apprenticeship at CAN, working in the office for four days and a day release for one. This time spent on site allowed me to develop valuable skills and knowledge from the team whilst working on a range of projects, complementing my HNC and HND learning and development.”
Fred Wood
“Cyclife Aquila Nuclear has supported my growth as an engineer throughout my time with the company. As an apprentice, I was offered many opportunities for professional development; this included a business-funded degree in mechanical engineering in which CAN supported me in studying part-time alongside my work. I’m grateful for the investment the business has made into my development.”
Both Charlie and Fred completed their apprenticeships in 2023 and are now fully qualified Mechanical Design Engineers.
We are incredibly proud of all of our apprentices and the hard work and dedication that they have shown to develop their careers. At the end of last year, we onboarded two new apprentices, Ben and Kai, who have started their journey towards a career in engineering. You can visit our apprentice page to learn more about our apprenticeships: Apprenticeships with CAN – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
You can also view our apprenticeship video here, where Charlie and Fred give their advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship at CAN: National Apprenticeship Week Video
