I knew as soon as I started at secondary school, that creative subjects would be my forte. This is why I chose four creative subjects at GCSE; art, drama, media and resistant materials (my favourite being resistant materials). I thoroughly enjoyed ‘project managing’ my GCSE final piece (a Harry Potter broomstick) unknowing at the time how much it would help in my career.

 

Although I loved RM, I hadn’t even considered it as a career path until Mr Baxter handed me a poster for Flakt Woods who were recruiting for apprentices. He suggested looking into it and attend their taster/open evening…which I did. From there I applied, got invited to attend an interview, and then got offered the job… on our Prom night in 2015! 

 

I can’t say I wasn’t apprehensive about joining an all-male factory, and I was warned that I would have to get used to their ‘banter’ and take nothing to heart. After a few months I was settled and had become ‘one of the lads’ and in some ways an ‘agony aunt’ for a lot of the men working there. 

 

I spent my first two years studying for a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering, achieving an overall grade of Distinction*Distinction, as well as a Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma in Engineering Technical Support which I have managed to complete a year early after a lot of hard work.

 

In June 2018 I was awarded Engineering Outstanding Apprentice of the Year for the Apprenticeship and further Education Awards 2018. The award was highly unexpected but something I couldn’t be more proud of achieving. 

 

As briefly mentioned above, the time I spent devising a portfolio for my final project in resistant materials, has helped me a great deal within my workplace and in college. A huge part of the BTEC Course is down to a 13000+ word project that has to be fully planned and potentially implemented within the company. This was probably the toughest part of the course, but it was made easier knowing the basics of creating a portfolio. 

 

My most memorable moment at MHS, has to be from the Belgium trip in 2013. Myself and another member of my year were chosen to lay a wreath, on behalf of the school, at The Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate, Ypres, which takes place every evening at 8pm. It was a huge honour to have been chosen, and a moving moment that I will never forget.