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The student - Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson was working as a labourer when his best friend, who was doing an ECITB Plating Apprenticeship, recommended the programme to him as an opportunity to learn a trade and earn good money. Chris wanted a job which would create a long-term career path and enable him to travel, and knew the ECITB apprenticeship would give him the skills he needed to work on big projects in the UK and abroad.
The ECITB Apprenticeship Experience
Chris is now in the third and final year of his apprenticeship. His first year was spent in college, learning about the basics of the job and doing practical skills training. “College was good,” Chris says. “Although we were just starting out, it was still very hands on – we got to practice cutting and shaping materials using hand tools like hacksaws, files and chisels and machine tools like power saws. I was also welding, assembling steelwork, using oxy-gas cutting equipment and setting out patterns for plate work. Of course we covered all the health and safety aspects and first aid training too, so the by the time we got our onsite placements at the start of the second year, we felt confident we had the basic skills.”
In his second year, Chris was placed with AMEC, who are based in Northern Ireland. “I was really pleased when the placement at AMEC came up, because I had wanted to travel so the chance to go to Northern Ireland for a year was brilliant. The ECITB were really supportive when it came time to move – they helped me find accommodation and gave me £200 a week to help pay my rent. I couldn’t wait to start putting the skills I’d gained during the off-the-job training into use onsite.”
When Chris had completed his year’s training with AMEC, the ECITB secured his third-year placement at Alston in Northamptonshire within days. “I was lucky enough to work in great teams at both my placements. They were really experienced which is vital as I often worked in hazardous conditions installing and commissioning electrical distribution systems, generators, electric monitors, heating and air conditioning systems. I was also involved with the identification, diagnosis and correction of electrical faults so it helped working with a qualified team who were on hand to offer advice when I needed it.”
“I’m still training, but the pay is pretty good, and when I complete my apprenticeship this year and get a permanent role it’ll be even better. I’d love to go to Australia and I know my skills would be useful there, so hopefully my apprenticeship will take me even further.”
“I would definitely recommend the ECITB Plating Apprenticeship to others,” Chris continues. “I feel like I’ve got a real career ahead of me now and the experiences I’ve had over the past couple of years have been brilliant. The apprenticeship has given me a good insight into the job of a plater and the experience I need to get a job I’ll really enjoy.”
Qualities required
Platers need to be precise and have a good eye for detail to cut, shape and assemble plate and steelwork. You’ll be happy to work away from home – in all weathers if necessary – and you’ll be fit and healthy enough to take on the demands of this challenging role.
Qualifications needed: 5 GCSE grades A-C
What you could be working on
You’ll be working with other skilled tradespersons onsite – possibly on a large tank or vessel. You’ll be responsible for carrying out repairs and maintenance which will draw on your skills in reading drawings, marking out and measuring, preparing templates, cutting and shaping plates and structural steel, and then assembling using lifting equipment and tack welding.
Contacts
- Jim Kinnell
- Head of Apprenticeships Programmes
- Theresa Bisgrove
- Apprenticeships Administrator