My experience as an apprentice – National Apprenticeship Week 2021
11/02/2021

Sam is an apprentice in Ordnance Munitions and Explosives at Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre. To mark the UK Government’s National Apprenticeship Week 2021, we caught up with him to find out more about his experience of life as an apprentice.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship had many things going for it. I have always enjoyed and done better in academia when there was a practical element to the learning. An apprenticeship offers a unique ability to put all the theory you learn into practice as you are learning it. Apprenticeships also give you the ability to integrate yourself into industry and the work environment much earlier which builds a professional reputation from day one.
What do you see as the main benefits of doing an apprenticeship? Has that changed since you started?
I saw many benefits for doing an apprenticeship. The main ones for me though were getting work experience whilst being paid to get a degree. You can gain experience in the business environment as well which develops a very different skill than would ordinarily be developed after completion of a qualification. Apprenticeships also have the major benefit of connecting you to subject matter experts and a wealth of experience in whatever sector you choose to go into which, I believe, helps with the learning process.
How are you or how do you plan to achieve your career goals?
An apprenticeship is a great way to start on the process of fulfilling your career aspirations. For me, it will help with this because you are able to network within the industry, and if nothing else, it gets your name known from very early on. My apprenticeship will also open up further options such as studying for a Masters and even PhD. This gives such a broad scope of career opportunities both within Cranfield and outside in wider industries.
Would you recommend it to others?
I think, if you have a genuine interest in the subject area or the business that sponsor you through the apprenticeship, there is nothing like the learning experience of an apprenticeship. I would implore people to investigate an apprenticeship as an alternative way to gain a qualification. It is such a rewarding way to do it.
What did people around you (family/friends) think of your decision to become an apprentice?
When I told people about my decision to become an apprentice, I was met with overwhelming support from my family and friends. They could all see the major benefits of getting a degree this way. Some of them even said that they wished they had got their qualification this way!
How is the support from Cranfield and your manager?
The support from my line manager, Trevor Lawrence, Director of Operations for COTEC, has always been amazing. He has been very supportive of my journey so far and I can ask him anything and he will go above and beyond to find the answers. I can also raise any issues I might have, and Trevor will deal with them quickly and make sure they are resolved. Likewise, the information and assistance I have received from Cranfield has been amazing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trevor and the rest of Cranfield for helping me along this journey.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The final bit of advice I would like to give people thinking about an apprenticeship, is just to research the course, skills that you might gain and the company you want to join thoroughly. The only negative thing that I have come across is that I don’t get the full “university experience” but I believe that the benefits severely outweigh the drawbacks, especially due to the people I work with.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Working on your internship report
Instead of producing a traditional thesis, as covered in our earlier post, some students in the School of Management - and perhaps some in other Cranfield Schools too - will embark upon on an internship ...
Embracing a Marketing and Leadership MSc Apprenticeship.
A Q&A with Faizah Azeem. Why did you decide to undertake a postgraduate apprenticeship in Marketing and Leadership? Cranfield delivers a unique programme that sits well with professionals wanting to develop themselves into expert ...
What is ‘Digital Forensic Science’?
Despite being a fundamental tool for many organisations and criminal justice systems around the world, arguably digital forensic science as a discipline does not always get the recognition it deserves in media broadcasts. Therefore, public ...
Pandemic PhD to prospects PhD
Hello, my name is Danni and I’m a third-year PhD student in the School of Water, Energy, and Environment specifically within the Soil, Agrifood and Biosciences department. My PhD focuses on how biostimulants (seaweeds, ...
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (Automotive) MSc alumnus Sohan Pookolayil Varghese on Cranfield, his career path, and why the automotive industry is such an exciting place to be
Sohan Pookolayil Varghese completed the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (Automotive) MSc in 2022. Here, he talks about his lifelong love of cars, why he chose Cranfield, and his career at Jaguar Land Rover where ...
Design as a Tool for Change
Design as a Tool for Change: Exploring Circular Economy and Sustainability through a visit to the Design Museum Design has become increasingly important in creating sustainable solutions for a better future. At the forefront ...