James Smout, 28, from Whitley Bay, has been an apprentice at UTS Engineering for four years. Here, he tells why the company is the perfect fit for him and how he has tunnel vision on a management role within the company, in the next ten years.
The past four years at UTS Engineering have been phenomenal. I started my apprenticeship not knowing what to expect and my expectations have been blown out of the water.
Prior to joining the company, I worked in the food service industry which was never my passion and I had a huge thirst to delve in to a career that would challenge me. I undertook a night class in welding at Newcastle College and really enjoyed learning new skills. This led me on to the path of my apprenticeship at UTS Engineering, which I accessed via South Tyneside College.
I am a huge advocate for apprentice training as I feel that learning on the job and being taught by experts in their field, such as those at UTS Engineering, is a lot more beneficial and feasible for many than undertaking expensive degree courses.
My apprenticeship was originally in fabrication and welding. However, I was given the opportunity to be part of a team to design the ‘UPT Cell’ which is a dedicated fabrication & welding cell that took our most popular product and improved the efficiency so that we could keep up the increased demand of our customers without increasing the number of staff and equipment unnecessarily. From there I took an interest in how the shop floor worked, the processes involved and how efficiencies could be made to our current processes. I was asked if I would like office experience so that I could learn how the business side of things works. I was keen to do so and found that I naturally excelled. A full-time position became available within the office and I jumped at the chance to fill it. My apprenticeship has now changed to engineering technical support, in line with my change of role.
My current responsibilities include processing all the orders that go through the factory and collating the drawings and process control sheets with the correct details, to be made on the factory floor. I also look at the contract review process and make sure we have the materials and resources to manufacture each order. I liaise with the shop floor managers, helping to distribute work to around 60 people on the shop floor to make sure that we are hitting our daily target. I thrive on the fast pace and the bespoke projects that we undertake every day. There is always something new for me to learn and I couldn’t be happier.
Since starting at the company, I have achieved a distinction for my level 3 BTEC in mechanical engineering and I am finalising my apprenticeship in engineering technical support which I should complete in a matter of weeks. My manager, Tony Chambers, has been a pillar of knowledge and support and he is only too happy to answer any questions I have. The company is also generously putting me through my Higher National Certificate in general engineering and I should complete that by the end of the summer, depending on what restrictions are in place regarding COVID-19.
I have most definitely been lucky to find myself at a company that really values its apprentices and sees them as the future of the business. It is rare for a company to encourage its employees, let alone apprentices, to move around the business and find what works best for them. Often, you start a role and that’s it, there are no opportunities to diversify.
Looking to the future, I want to work towards a senior management role at the company. My aim is to help the business continue to grow and to assist in making sure that UTS Engineering remains the go to choice for customers in the water and gas industry.
