The next generation of energy workers: Adam Lever

Last year, Prospect member Adam Lever, graduated with a first-class degree from his Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship at Nuclear Transport Solutions, where he now works full-time as a Design Engineer.

Before I started the apprenticeship, I did a BTEC Level Three in Mechanical Engineering, so I knew it was something I enjoyed and found interesting.

At college they had different Careers Fairs and Sellafield were one of the companies that went along. They sounded really appealing so I did one week’s work experience with them in my last year of college.

That gave me a taste of the company, and for nuclear as well, and it really cemented my interest in doing an apprenticeship.

University just didn’t appeal to me. I know you get the same qualification out of it, but you don’t get the practical experience, and you’re left with the student debt at the end of it.

Adam Lever

The apprenticeship

The first year of this apprenticeship you’re in college full-time, but then for the remaining four years, you’re in the workplace at Nuclear Transport Solutions four days a week.

I was quite apprehensive when I started because I’ve seen stories about apprentices, or young labourers in, for example, construction, getting bullied and treated badly. Or, where they’re just making the tea and not learning much.

Thankfully, that’s not been my experience at all. Everyone’s been really good, and I’ve always been treated as a proper member of staff. The team were very supportive of me, and I need to thank them because they’ve helped me to succeed.

A lot of what I was learning for my degree, I was able to apply at work too. I was using real-life, work-based projects for a lot of my degree work. It all came together neatly.

For example, for my dissertation in the final year of the apprenticeship, I designed a lifting beam for a real NTS package.

I was aware at the start of the apprenticeship that although a job wasn’t exactly guaranteed at the end, I knew that if you completed the degree successfully, there was a very, very high probability that you would be offered one.

I now work as a Design Engineer for NTS in Hinton House, Warrington.

I know like it sounds like a cliche, but no two days are the same. There are always different things going on, and you’re working on different projects at the same time.

I might be on some design work, writing up reports, or there might be site visits as well. There are lots of thing to get involved in, which has really helped me develop a wide range of skills.

Joining Prospect and advice for apprentices

I wasn’t in the union while I was an apprentice, but about this time last year there was a lot of negotiations going on with Prospect representatives in the company. There were many things to vote on so I thought it was important that I could have an input on these important issues.

What I would say to any apprentice now, like Bradley Price, when they’re coming through is to just say ‘yes’ to every opportunity.

There have been a quite few things that I’ve done that have helped boost my confidence. When I first came in, I was quite shy but the opportunities I’ve had here have really helped me develop in that sense. There might be stuff you don’t particularly enjoy but you’ll develop your skills, and you get to make more contacts and meet new people.

• Read more: Bradley Price, NTS, on his apprenticeship