Derby: JCB apprentice welder hopes for more female engineers

As annual Apprentice Week gets under way on Monday, she said she hoped other young people, especially females, would join apprenticeship schemes

“I chose the apprenticeship route because I am a practical learner so it was a great way for me to gain hands-on experience,” she said.

“I currently work in the heavy products team, and have advanced my skills in welding as well as learning new skills such as cutting and grinding.

“For anyone considering an apprenticeship my advice would be to just do it, the knowledge and experience you gain is amazing.”

The Rocester-based company, which is one of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in the world, has more than 370 apprentices.

On 15 February, it will be holding an Apprenticeships Open Day at JCB Global Learning, Rocester, to take on people for welding, assembly, manufacturing, engineering, technician and business-wide degree apprenticeships.

Neil Fowkes, the company’s early careers talent manager, said JCB aimed to train and develop the “next generation” of engineers, assemblers and business administrators, adding its apprenticeship schemes were “integral to our vision of the future”.