A day in the life of a Materials & Analytical Science (MAS) apprentice

My name is Keith and I am a Materials & Analytical Science (MAS) Apprentice. I’ve been at AWE for 17 months.

I chose an apprenticeship for the same reason I chose BTEC over A-levels, I am a hands-on learner. As well as working towards the same qualification one might get from sitting in a classroom, I can get first-hand experience in my chosen trade and get paid for it with the real potential of instant employment once complete. As an aspiring scientist in the making, there are few places which can offer such a broad spectrum of scientific opportunities as AWE. During the application process there was a fantastic quantity of information to help me understand just what AWE could offer me in terms of scientific training and knowledge.
It wasn’t until I began my apprenticeship that I suddenly realised, AWE didn’t just have training courses and ‘book’ knowledge waiting for me, it had mentors, coaches and dedicated people with the combined scientific knowledge on an unmeasurable scale.

As a MAS apprentice, I work in an environment learning about the various characteristics of different metals. I work in the lab directly alongside my coach who guides and assists my knowledge about material sciences and how important the work we do is in the grand scheme of the business objective.  On a day to day basis, the order of work sees an undertaking of a wide variety of different tasks including, destructive component testing, data analysis, reports and observations, and quality assurance in every aspect of the job.

I think the best thing about this job, is the variety of different jobs/projects I’ve both witnessed and taken part in. The rush every time a job hits the desk is exciting as no two jobs are ever the same. Each one involves a new process which means learning new techniques and finding innovative solutions to problems you wouldn’t encounter outside the wire. Each day can often feel like the first day at a new job which keeps it feeling fresh with a drive to do the best you can. The skills you learn, the professional relationships you build and continued learning development have given me the ability to undertake tasks with knowledge I wouldn’t be able to gain anywhere else. I have been able to build a developing rapport  with many colleagues of different trades such as other scientists, engineers, technicians etc, all of which are happy to talk to me and answer questions, all to help me progress.

Once I have completed my apprenticeship I would love to remain in my current position and continue to further develop my skills in the area of material science, before I joined AWE I had a past interaction in the precision engineering trade, so the fact I have found a job which combines the bests parts of both science and engineering, for me, is a dream come true.
In 5 years’ time I would like to say I see myself running my own material science lab, dedicated to continually improving testing procedures and developing new and exciting methods for maximising the quality output for future products. However, the most exciting prospect for me is the amount of opportunities at AWE, so who knows where I will be- but I am excited to find out!

As well as a sense of great professional achievement and continuous development aided by enthusiastic line managers, coaches and mentors, the benefits of working with AWE extend into a much more practical aspect of life outside the wire. The starting pay and progressive increase year on year, as an apprentice, is one of the best. I have been able to comfortably support and provide for my family as an apprentice and the rise in pay when I outturn into full employee is heart-warming to think of the life I will be able to provide for my partner and my little boys. I will never have to worry about missing my children’s school plays, parents’ evenings and their own graduations as the annual leave allowance is extraordinary, I don’t know any other company-based apprenticeship’s which come close to the same offer as AWE’s.
Like everyone, I have my own personal situations and mine takes the form of a muscle wasting disability, which on a day to day basis can make things very difficult and requires a few adaptations to my working styles, methods and overall functionality. In this instance, I feel that if it were not for the support of my line manager, the business effort to make sure I get equal opportunities, and more people than I will ever have time to thank for making this apprenticeship possible for me I probably wouldn’t have been able to stick it out.

The advice I would give to someone thinking about joining AWE is:

1. If you are willing to work, willing to learn, and are motivated in your approach. You will receive in return the same effort in support, guidance and understanding.
2. Take advantage of every learning opportunity.
3. And lastly, here at AWE, every individual from apprentice to director gets an equal opportunity to be the best they can be.