Case Study: Tara

Tara found a passion for engineering having grown up around engineers in the family from a young age. Following work experience at the Science and Technology Facilities Council, she knew she had found her career path, and decided to apply for an apprenticeship. Four years on, she is now celebrating becoming the first at Oxfordshire Advanced Skills to successfully complete her apprenticeship!

We caught up with Tara who tells us about her learning journey and has some advice for other budding apprentices looking to undertake an apprenticeship…

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?
I have always had a keen interest in riding and maintaining offroad motorbikes, but it was my older brother who inspired me to start an apprenticeship. I was 15 years old when I completed two weeks of work experience where he worked at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). In this placement within the Diagnostics Group, I built a cable testing unit, which is still in use today - 5 years later!
I was drawn to the vocational, rather than purely academic route, because I thought onsite placements would be really beneficial for learning new skills and gaining confidence in the workplace.

Did you have a particular career in mind when you made your decision? If so, what, and why?
It was my work experience placement that confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in electronic engineering.

At STFC, I’m in the Project Development Section of the Electrical and Electronic User Support Group. My role involves a combination of project management and task leadership work, which means half of my time is spent on my own projects, where I take projects through their whole lifecycle, from initial concept all the way to commissioning and handover. The other half of my time is spent contributing to other engineers’ projects, for example, cryogenic wiring of centre sticks.

I’m also pioneering work on a new system, which is designed to ensure projects are carried out in a strict priority structure and follow agreed deadlines.

At the end of my third year, I was voted to be Chair of the Apprenticeship Forum. I’ve really enjoyed helping others in this role by launching and running mentor-like information sessions for the 30+ engineering apprentices at STFC.

Did you have an idea of what an apprenticeship would involve before you came to OAS?
I did, because my brother completed his apprenticeship in the same year as I started my apprenticeship, although some aspects had changed as the apprenticeship is constantly evolving. For example, the End Point Assessment (EPA), which evaluates an apprentice’s development on the apprenticeship programme, was introduced after my brother had completed his apprenticeship.

What are the most memorable projects you’ve worked on at OAS so far?
One of my highlights is becoming the first apprentice at Oxfordshire Advanced Skills to successfully complete EPA. I selected three complex projects which demonstrated the depth of my knowledge and wrote detailed job reports for my EPA portfolio. This was followed by a professional discussion which explored each project in depth, as well as other aspects of my learning and career progression.

It was really gratifying to see all the hard work I have put in over the last four years as it brought together evidence from my apprenticeship and built a broad picture of all my skills.

My EPA documentation was reviewed by the IET and Engineering Council and I am now professionally registered as an Engineering Technician. EngTech is a globally recognised benchmark and a great stepping stone towards becoming an Incorporated Engineer - IEng or a Chartered Engineer - CEng.

How has the apprenticeship programme been beneficial to you and your career?
I’ve been able to build a vast range of skills throughout my apprenticeship and utilise them within my work. This includes technical skills such as soldering, wiring, cryogenic wiring techniques, testing, fault finding, schematic design and printed circuit board (PCB) design, facilitated by several rotations which have enabled me to learn from lots of different colleagues.

Alongside my apprenticeship, I studied an HNC in electrical and electronic engineering with the next step being a bachelor’s degree to continue building my knowledge.

There is ample opportunity for continuous professional development during the course of the apprenticeship. For example, I completed the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership. It is a six-month programme (January to June 2023) which aims to address the lack of women in technical leadership positions. The programme is specifically designed towards building skills that are vital for technical leadership and involves several modules and action learning sets to facilitate this.

What would you say are the benefits and what advice would you offer to those looking to apply to the OAS apprenticeship programme?

The best part of the apprenticeship was rotating around different placements. This gave me exposure to a huge range of working environments, leading to the development of a wide variety of skillsets. This has helped me become a more competent engineer, with the skills required to work on projects from concept to completion. It’s also helped me to decide which areas of electronics I want to pursue.

I think it’s really important for apprentices to demonstrate a positive attitude and show a willingness to learn. Treat the apprenticeship like a four-year interview to ensure that you make a good impression and maximise your career opportunities!

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy the Electrical and Electronic User Support Group work, which enables me to work with several different groups like Sample Environment. It provides a large customer base and a huge variety of work, and the mix allows me to develop my project management and design skills, as well as my technical skills.

What are your future career plans?
I plan to continue with higher education to continually build on my theoretical knowledge and I have started an HND in electrical and electronic engineering. After this I will pursue a bachelor’s degree in electronics.

With more knowledge and experience, I plan to progress to a point where I could lead the Project Development section in the future.