Engineering - Apprenticeships | Blackpool and The Fylde College

Engineer a Career

In the machine that printed this prospectus. In the truck that delivered the paper. In every last little widget and gizmo that keeps an aeroplane flying, a toaster toasting or a giant wind turbine turning. In short, nothing works without an engineer’s input.

If you’ve always had a fascination for the mechanical and you’re comfortable with maths and science, an Engineering Apprenticeship could be the perfect way to channel your skills into this vital and exciting field. Gone are the days when engineering was all about ‘metal bashing’; nowadays, it’s a highly technical discipline that will involve you in Computer Aided Design technology and precision tooling with tolerances measured in thousandths of a millimetre.

You can choose from several Technical Certificates covering a range of disciplines including mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. There’s also the option of a Foundation Degree in Engineering after your Apprenticeship. And with 11% of all people in the UK Technology, Engineering and Science sector working in the North West, you’ve got a broad choice of employers in the area who can help you train and develop your career.

Meet the Apprentice

Olly Byrne, Age 22

Olly is in the fourth year of his Advanced Apprenticeship with aeronautical engineers, John Huddleston Engineering. He already has a First Diploma and National Diploma in Engineering under his belt and although he has now completed his Advanced Apprenticeship studies at College, he is still full of praise for his tutors as well as for the staff at Huddleston’s.

“My teachers at College always took time to make sure we understood the principles and theories of engineering so we could put them into practice in the workplace and they still take an interest in me and my work. The team here are really supportive as well; I know I can ask for help and pick their brains if I need to. In fact, I learn something new off them every day.”

Olly’s enthusiasm and abilities have been rewarded with an inspection role at Huddleston’s, a position that would normally go to a much more experienced person.

“It just goes to show that if you’re prepared to work and study hard, an Apprenticeship is the best way there is to learn and progress in your career.”

Meet the Boss

Eddie Rawlings, Apprenticeship Co-Ordinator and Quality Manager, John Huddleston Engineering

Eddie is a committed advocate of Apprenticeships as a solution to the skills shortage he sees as one of the biggest challenges facing the UK engineering industry.

“Our management recognises how important it is to invest in training and to grow talent for the future. We’ve been sending Apprentices to Blackpool and The Fylde College for around five years now and we’ve always had a good relationship with the team there. It’s very much a two-way street with continuous communication and feedback between us and the assessors.”

Huddleston’s has an extensive and well-developed training programme in place that introduces Apprentices to all the key areas of the business while they serve their time. What their College studies add to that training, however, is knowledge in key areas such as health and safety and the development of literacy and number skills.

“Communication is a big part of engineering. Apprentices need those skills to write reports and complete work sheets, so it’s important they get the opportunity to polish them up at College. It’s a good system… with the practical and theoretical split between work and College, there’s very little that falls between the cracks. And very few Apprentices that don’t complete their time with us.”

To find out more about Apprenticeship study at Blackpool and The Fylde College, please visit our Apprenticeships Section