Engineering apprentice first to complete four-year apprenticeship with top European company.

AWS Electronics Group is a leading Specialist Electronics Manufacturing Solutions (EMS) provider, offering services for the entire electronic product life-cycle, from design to manufacturing and on through whole life service and repair.

The UK based manufacturer took on William after completing his BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering at Newcastle College, combining one day a week studying with four days gaining practical workplace experience towards his PEO (Performing Engineering Operations) and Level 3 NVQ in Engineering.

Since starting his apprenticeship, William has enjoyed a variety of roles in order to enhance his experience and understand the full manufacturing cycle.

William of Newcastle-under-Lyme said: ““Overall, it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. AWS Electronics Group have been fantastic to work with, offering advice and support where needed and I have always found everyone to be very approachable. Towards the end of my apprenticeship, I was proud to have been given the opportunity to manage and improve the metrology area for the business, and now I look forward to training as a Process Engineer within the PCA Engineering team. I would absolutely recommend this programme to others and feel I have grown in confidence enormously over the last few years.”

William is now continuing with AWS Electronics Group, acting as a mentor and providing support to a new intake of apprentices starting the programme.

Paul Deehan, CEO for AWS Electronics Group said: “Through our partnership with Newcastle College, the apprenticeship scheme has continued to bring forward exceptional levels of talent locally each year. Throughout his apprenticeship, William has achieved excellence in all areas worked, showing maturity for his age as well as demonstrating his intelligence and fantastic work ethic. It is a great achievement for him to have completed the apprenticeship and now work at a level where he is responsible for metrology at our Newcastle-under-Lyme facility. We look forward to further successful candidates progressing with the company over the coming years.”

Assistant Principal Strategic Employment and Partnerships at NSCG, Carl Riding added: “It’s always wonderful to hear success stories of how our apprentices have thrived in the workplace. NSCG is one of the UK’s leading providers of apprenticeships, with success rates 9% ahead of the national average and William is the perfect example of how work-based training is a successful alternative to traditional academic study and how apprentices can greatly benefit employers. We wish him every success in his future career.”

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) currently work over 850 employers in a range of industries including, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Design, Business and Administration, Construction, Engineering, Motor Vehicle and more. Key employer partners include ABB, Siemens, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, GE, Keele University, Knights Solicitors and many more.