At Chemring, we support apprentices into a wide variety of roles from Engineering and HSE technicians through to HR support, Manufacturing, and Data Scientists. Our aim is to grow our future talent through entry level apprenticeship whilst also developing internal talent through higher level apprenticeships.
We take on apprentices from Level 3 up to Level 7. Level 3 is the equivalent of two A-levels, Level 4+ is equal to a foundation degree, and Levels 6 to 7 are equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. At present, we have 48 active apprentices across Chemring and a further 46 apprentices who have completed apprenticeships since 2017 – a number which continues to grow. This puts our total investment in apprenticeships, since 2017, at £1.4m.
We’re using this year’s National Apprenticeship Week to celebrate some of our Chemring apprentices, who are working towards different levels of apprenticeship, sharing their experiences and what it has offered them.
Meet Jamie, Apprentice Engineer at Chemring Countermeasures UK (CCM UK), who is currently working on completing his NVQ Level 3.
“I’m based at Chemring Countermeasures in Salisbury. As an apprentice engineer, I specialise in enhancing the plant's production capabilities, focusing on both health and safety and manufacturing capacity improvements. I also work closely with the team to address critical breakdowns and ensure that important documentation is kept up to date.
“I am currently working to complete my NVQ Level 3 while progressing with my HNC studies. This follows my completion of the Level 3 BTEC component of the apprenticeship. These studies have been, and continue to be, challenging but are crucial for becoming a competent engineer and are incredibly fulfilling to complete.
“This is not only my first apprenticeship in engineering but my first apprenticeship overall. I found the Chemring apprenticeship programme through the government website while searching for apprenticeships that would suit me. I started the programme straight from college and chose this apprenticeship programme due to my initial interest in the STEM field and the intriguing aspect of working within the countermeasure industry.
“My apprenticeship consists of a four-year course in a day-release format, with one day per week at college and the rest in the workplace. Upon completing the apprenticeship, I will have obtained Level 3 BTEC and NVQ qualifications, providing an excellent foundation as an engineer with both college and work-based experience. This will support my HNC studies as I progress further into higher education.
“So far, I have enjoyed applying the theoretical knowledge from my college learning to the workplace and seeing myself become more competent in tasks I used to struggle with. My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship is you get out what you put in. As with everything, you must work hard to get where you want to be!”