Living the Dream [17/08/2009] If ever there was an embodiment of what engineering apprenticeships are all about – and the value they deliver to the individual and employer – Martin Birkett must surely be it. Engineering Apprentice reports Sceptics who doubt the value of apprenticeships and their long-term future should take a look at the meteoric rise of one young man who stands as a powerful and persuasive argument for investing in this now often neglected route into engineering. Martin Birkett joined Bedlington-based TT electronics Welwyn Components – see panel – in 1995 as a multi-skilled maintenance apprentice. Today, 14 years later, he is on the threshold of completing his PhD. Quite an achievement for someone who says he was "not that good at school – I hated it!" Image: Click here for additional image Moreover, he is one of only six individuals in the UK to be granted an Industrial Fellowship by The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, which recognises innovation and creativity in British industry – others include scientific heroes and Nobel Laureates, such as the father of nuclear science, Lord Rutherford, and atomic physicist Lord Penney. When Birkett set out on this remarkable career path at the age of 16, he was soon showing all of the determination and talent that have since taken him to such heights. After three years of training – including completion of NVQ2, NVQ3 and GNVQ Advanced qualifications in Engineering – he had successfully 'served his time' and was offered a permanent position as an electronics maintenance technician. Image: Click here for additional image During the two years he spent in that role, he continued to develop his knowledge and experience through hands-on experience at work and also through continuing his academic qualifications by completing an HNC in both Electronic/Mechanical Engineering and also Engineering Mathematics. By 2000, Birkett was keen to develop his career further and wanted to be able to apply his growing academic skills to his job; and so he applied for the position of production engineer within the resistors division. This he secured and spent the next six years developing himself as an engineer, mainly working in the precision resistors area of the division. During this time, he extended his engineering knowledge to new levels by successfully completing a part-time BEng (Hons) Degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, from which he graduated in 2004 with first class honours. Image: Martin Birkett: Combined learning with earning and had a career path to follow The path he has taken is no surprise, for engineering is very much in his blood. "My dad ran his own electronics company and I used to help out. That's where the attraction to engineering really began." Since then, he has continued to work as an engineer, but also sought to help others following their own career paths by becoming involved with the training of up-and-coming apprentice engineers, completing his A1 NVQ Assessors Award. In September 2005, he began his PhD and also transferred jobs from production to the resistors business unit, where he works as a development engineer. That role involves the development of products and processes to help generate new and ongoing business for the company. In this role, Birkett is using his extensive product knowledge and expertise to deal with non-standard product enquiries, advising companies such as General Electric, Schneider Electric and Philips on technical data and complex product applications. Significantly, it was within this new position that he felt he could develop the idea of low-resistivity thin film resistors into a project to help the company and also develop himself further by completing it as a part-time PhD. And it was for this work that the Royal Commision for the Exhibition of 1851 awarded him the prestigious Industrial Fellowship. In fact, it was Welwyn Components that nominated Birkett for the award, for what regarded as his outstanding contribution, both to the company and to the industry as a whole. Proud achievement Barry Peters, resistors business unit director at Welwyn Components, has nothing but praise for the way in which Birkett has flourished within the company. "Not many achieve what Martin has achieved and we are very proud of that. Apprenticeships are something we believe in and are committed to. If people are a business's most valuable asset, then apprenticeships are an ideal way to invest in that." Peters himself joined Welwyn Components as an apprentice 34 years ago. "Many of our senior management came into the company by the same route. Former apprentices are to be found right across our business and many have been here all their working lives. Apprentices are involved in all aspects of what we do from day one, getting to move around between process, maintenance, manufacturing, etc, learning the organisation from the ground up. When they come out of their apprenticeships, they understand the business and how it works. And that's something you can't put a price on." Not surprisingly, Birkett is an equally firm believer in apprenticeships. "With the support of Welwyn Components, the route I have taken has allowed me to develop my skills and gain qualifications I would never have thought possible when I was at school. I've been able to combine learning with earning as well – and I had a path to follow. I would encourage anyone who felt this might also be the right approach for them to do the same." Box Item COMPONENTS OF SUCCESS Part of TT electronics - one of the largest suppliers of electronic components worldwide, across industrial, defence, aerospace, automotive and medical markets - Welwyn Components is a leading supplier of resistors and microelectronic assemblies. Components is a core business for TT, which also has a Secure power division and an Electronic manufacturing services division as part of its operations. State-of-the-art facilities, a skilled workforce and a significant investment in high volume automated production have created partnerships with major customers that have positioned Welwyn Components as the market leader in its field in Europe. With the increasing importance of integrated advanced technology in the medical device sector, Welwyn has transferred expertise and engineering precision from defence market offerings to become a premier supplier to manufacturers of systems, such as ECG, ultrasonic monitors and other diagnostic equipment. Its highly skilled engineers work closely with customers to build relationships, and help them to solve complex problems through innovation, support and service excellence. First published in Engineering Apprentice, Summer 2009