Charlie Hillier, 21 from Buxton joined the Bradwell based NEC (Nuclear Energy Components) in September and has started his Level 3 Machining Technician standard at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham.
Prior to joining NEC, Charlie has completed a Level 3 in Aeronautical Engineering at Macclesfield College, he said “I have always liked finding out how things work and putting things together, my Grandad worked in electrical engineering and my Dad did some engineering so it has been natural for me to follow in their footsteps. I’m enjoying the course so far at the training centre having been working on CNC milling and now started learning manual turning.”
Charlie is the first of NEC’s next round of apprentices, Jack Ottewell, 16 from has also joined the company and will be doing a year in-company training before starting at the AMRC Training Centre in September 2024.
NEC, is continuing the legacy of Newburgh Engineering, where the company has been training apprentices since the 1950s with many apprentices staying with the business and some progressing through to become Directors before eventually retiring.
Sales Director, David Greenan, who trained at the Bradwell site as an apprentice himself in the mid-1970s, said “We are dedicated to training the next generation of skilled engineers to continue the development of the business and the industry. Apprenticeships give young people a great opportunity to learn new skills whilst being paid and gain both the qualifications and practical experience that employers need.”
The three-year Level 3 apprenticeship with the AMRC Training Centre sees apprentices complete an initial 38-week block on site at the centre 5 days a week. In year 2, they complete 4 days a week in company with 1 day a week in the centre, before progressing to be full time in company and finishing with an End Point Assessment in year 3 which determines whether they pass.
Dan Swift, Business Development Executive for the AMRC Training Centre said “We are delighted to be supporting NEC with their latest apprentices following the success of past apprentices – Matt Keeley and Adam Hadfield, continuing our relationship with the NEC team and helping them grow and develop the team’s skills into the future.”
The AMRC Training Centre has a long-standing relationship with the company and Chairman, Vince Middleton OBE was the Chair of the AMRC Training Centre when it was founded back in 2013.