14 learning January/February 2009
HE, FE & WORK-BASED
agenda once again. The National
Apprenticeship Service is being set up to
expand programmes across the country
and the Government wants to see 10,000
more places over the next three years.
The drive comes as the number of
adults gaining vocational qualifications
and starting apprenticeships also rises.
Dave's Young Apprenticeship was a
four-year training programme that
mixed academic theory with on-the-job
training as a workshop engineer that he
was paid well for. He joined a team of 16
engineers at the Botcherby can
manufacturing plant who were
responsible for the maintenance of its
machinery. One line at the 24-hour plant
can make 1.5 million aluminum cans a
day and it is vital that the machines are
kept running.
Dave began his apprenticeship
studying full-time on engineering
courses at Carlisle College. He went on
to complete an ONC and HNC in
mechanical engineering. After the first
year at college, years two, three and
four were largely spent at the factory
with Dave returning to classes on a day-
release basis.
"When I first started my training I was
on �80 a week and then in my second
year it jumped massively," he said. "It
jumped even more when I started
working shifts. I must admit it was the
idea of having my own money that I
liked," he said.
"You were almost guaranteed a job
when you started the apprenticeship but
you had to work for it. I was offered a job
in my third year and after that I passed
my apprenticeship."
But he added: "An apprenticeship is
not something you can go into in a half-
hearted way.
"It's up to you to put the work in. You
are treated like an adult at college so the
only person who loses out if you don't get
your head down is you. It can be hard.
FROM PAGES 8&9
`In the first year I was on
�80 a week � it jumped
massively the next year'
Ready for anything: As well as the apprenticeship, David has completed
Crown's own management scheme for an internal management qualification
Flagship:
Top and left,
Crown Bev-
can's
Botcherby
plant is the
largest
factory of
its type in
Europe. It
produces
two-piece
aluminum
cans for beer
Sport
For more information call
0845 850 0766 (16+ further education)
0845 606 1144 (undergraduate)
0845 850 0760 (postgraduate)
www.cumbria.ac.uk/sport
Courses at a variety of levels--16+, undergraduate,
postgraduate--leading to qualifications and a career in sport
Sometimes, after doing a 12-hour shift in
the factory, the last thing I wanted to do
was go home and study but it benefits
you in the long run."
Dave, who lives in Bracken Close,
Carlisle, spent eight years in the work-
shop, including the four on his apprentice-
ship. And within the last 18 months, he
has started to move up the ranks.
"A job came up for junior
management," he said. "It was looking
after a department, managing the
building's facilities and looking after its
services. I applied and I got the job. I did
it for a year and just recently I became
the engineering co-ordinator for the
aluminum plant."
The factory is effectively split into
three different plant areas � steel, ends
and aluminum. Each has its own
engineering co-ordinator. Dave manages
a team of eight engineers to ensure that
the work is shared out and the plant's
machines operate properly and
efficiently.
"I've had to spend a week on Crown's
own management scheme doing an
internal management qualification. I'm
also having to do a course with the
Institute of Leadership and Management
which is a day-release programme for
five weeks, and an external consultant
comes in to do assessments and monitor
my work here."
Dave is pleased with how his career
has developed over the last 10 years.
He said: "It was fantastic getting into
the world of work and this is a brilliant
place to work. It has a great atmosphere
and everyone is helpful.
"At the age of 26 I'm still learning but I
want to progress up the ladder so it's the
way to go. I'd certainly recommend work-
based learning to anyone thinking of an
alternative to sixth form and university.
"There are some people who can't
express themselves on paper but they
can with their hands.
"I thought at times that I'd miss out on
university but it is not the be-all-and-end-
-all. The person who had my job before
`I thought I'd miss out on
university but I haven't.
It's a great alternative'

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