Rising Stars: Meet Jamie, HNC Learner at the Environment Agency
What advice would you give aspiring apprentices?
"Well, if anyone ever got the opportunity, I would always say, you've got to go for it." Jamie Butcher, an HNC engineering apprentice with Environment Agency, talks to us about his motivation to pursue an apprenticeship in engineering as a mature student.
I want to thank you for doing this for me today Jamie, I appreciate it and we're hoping your journey will inspire more people to consider re-skilling through an apprenticeship pathway. So what were you doing before you decided to come onto this apprenticeship?
"Well, I was working as a contractor, I used to be in a construction trade and we used to have an ongoing contract at Thame's barrier before applying for a full-time job [with the Environment Agency] working in the civil maintenance team.
As part of a flood response team you're working in a big engineering site, I wanted to get more involved, more in the engineering side. So I applied to move across departments to the mechanical team. As part of my move, you've got to have a qualification. So I started an apprenticeship here [IPS] in 2019."
What made you want to do a HNC, and how supportive was your employer?
"It all depends on the employer's need to be supportive because it's time away from work, but the Environment Agency was on board with it, so I thought I'd give it a go. I just want to keep stepping up. The opportunity came up and a couple of other people came down to do their HNC down here [with IPS] and they sold the idea to me. Because I'm comfortable, I know everyone here, and I know you [IPS] will support me down here, I'd give it a go. It's been good. I'm in my second year now so I'm on track to hopefully pass with merit. So that's what I'm kind of aiming for.
I'm lucky because the Environment Agency is very supportive of self-improvement, and any training you want to do, as long as it applies to what your role you're doing, the sky is the limit pretty much."
What advice would you give someone in similar circumstances?
"Well, if anyone ever got the opportunity to re-skill, I would always say, you've got to go for it. Some people get a bit stuck in a rut and they probably don't feel that they'd be able to do a 4 year apprenticeship, but you will surprise yourself. As a mature apprentice, you're going to put everything into it. Because you realise what's at stake. It might take a little while to reignite it [being in a learning environment] because, I mean, for me, there's a big gap between it. But once you sort of get into the swing of it, you kind of surprise yourself with what you can do."
Where do you see this apprenticeship taking you?
"It's a springboard to something else within the company. I suppose I just took it step by step, I wanted to be more hands-on with the engineering side.
You see people with higher roles and responsibilities and even in civil society, I used to think, well, I could do that, but you have to be qualified.
The NVQ apprenticeship is very hands-on, like the job role I'm doing day in, and day out. I'd say the HNC looks good on paper, but, and that's where it will benefit me the most.
I want career progression really, and where I work, you can get on the Institute level, where you can financially benefit if you can get in as an Incorporated Member."
So what specific engineering skills have you found most useful in the workplace?
There's a sort of analytical thinking of things like a lot of fault-finding. Just breaking down components, and a lot of hydraulic training. I've done the fluid power unit here and I've done quite a high-level hydraulic training. All the trainers have been really good. I'm used to doing manual work and using my hands, but I learnt a lot in my first year.
HNC is the next step up for all learners who have undertaken a Level 3 BTEC in Engineering. We currently offer two pathways, electrical & electronic engineering and mechanical engineering. If you have questions about what's involved, call our advisers on 01634 298808.