CIE Components in Electronics
AWS Electronics Group, one of Europe’s leading specialist electronics manufacturing services providers, is proud to announce that its first Advanced Engineering Apprentice, William Edge, has completed his four-year apprenticeship at its facility in Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK.
William started his apprenticeship journey with AWS and Newcastle-under-Lyme College having already achieved a BTEC in Engineering. For the first two years, he worked to achieve his PEO (Performing Engineering Operations) qualification and following this, combined one day a week at college with four days a week gaining practical work experience at AWS Electronics. He is now pleased to have completed his Level 3 NVQ in Engineering.
Operating on a rotational placement basis, the apprenticeship has allowed William to harness a set of skills in a variety of different areas across the facility, in order to experience the entire manufacturing cycle. In his first few months, William began developing skills in electro-mechanical assembly for a global food processing company. A further eight months were based in the stores department, experiencing the full stores process, including booking-in and kitting. Following this, he enjoyed working in purchasing, engineering documentation, unit assembly and wiring systems. This was followed by several months in the dedicated maintenance, repair and overhaul centre. He then spent time in SMT and AWS’ rapid prototyping and NPI facility, fast track, learning about set-up and component recognition. Other areas he has experienced include test and diagnostics, and more recently, quality and metrology.
William Edge, advanced engineering apprentice, comments: “Overall, it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There is not one area that I have not enjoyed working in. All of the managers 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 providing support and acting as mentor to the new intake of apprentices as they begin their four-year apprenticeship journey. He also plans to enhance his ExCel skills by attending an Advanced IT course.
Paul Deehan, CEO AWS Electronics Group, comments: “Through our partnership with Newcastle-under-Lyme 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.”
AWS Electronics is eager to support the training and development of young engineers, and continues to work alongside Newcastle-under-Lyme College on the Advanced Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme, recently welcoming two more new apprentices to the UK factory. AWS is planning to recruit a further two to four apprentices during 2018/19.
