Bowers Group apprentices Oliver Read and Ewan Whitehead have both successfully completed their Level 4 Higher National Certificates in Mechanical Engineering. Based in Bradford, Oliver and Ewan are now working their way towards National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s), which are practical work-based awards that recognise the skills and knowledge a person needs to do a job.
Manufacturing Technician Oliver Read works on the Production Engineering Team at Bowers Group’s manufacturing facility in Bradford. Oliver started in November 2019 and since achieving a merit grade in his HNC, he’s now working towards his NVQ Level 4 and currently attending college one day a week.
Oliver said:
“I enjoy my role at Bowers because no two days are the same and it involves a lot of problem solving. I also like the technical side, and working with computers, CNC machining and software. I could be designing a fixture one day and writing a programme on the CNC machine the next, it’s so varied.
I also enjoy the number crunching aspect of my role which involves lots of digging around through SAP and analysing data that allows us to make manufacturing improvements and increase quality.”
Ewan Whitehead also works on the Production Engineering Team and is primarily focussed on CNC Machining. After finishing his HNC and receiving his certificate in July, Ewan is now working towards his NVQ Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering and looking towards the future at Bowers Group. Ewan said:
“I love my apprenticeship because I learn something new every day and have the opportunity to earn while I learn. My ambition is to move up a role within the business and increase my skills on the shop floor. John Crabtree has been a great mentor to me during my time at Bowers.”
John Crabtree said:
“The course was over 2 years and quite intense, so to achieve a merit grade is a great achievement and an excellent qualification to set you up for a career in engineering.”