CAREER STORIES

I'm a second year Fabrication and Welding Apprentice at North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) in Pickering. I find my job a fantastic experience and in the two years of being here it has taught me a variety of skills and experience that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. It has given me the best opportunity to evolve my career.

My day to day work at NYMR consists of body repair and maintenance of Heritage Carriages. As well as my welding skills for the newer carriages I also use woodwork and joinery skills which I learn from my Mentor in the workplace – this method is mainly used on the older carriages.

I am studying at Derwent Training Association (DTA) in Malton for a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Fabrication and Welding which involves units such as TIG, MIG and MMA welding techniques; we start with basic skills in the first year and become more advanced throughout the duration of our apprenticeship.

My Apprenticeship helps me in the workplace with the quality control of my welding and to be able to check that everything that I do is correct. It enables me to apply the skills that I learn at DTA straight into work.

I think than an Apprenticeship in this industry is a great opportunity to learn skills that are fading out i.e. welding and joinery and learning on the job to maintain these carriages for the public to enjoy, but an Apprenticeship in Engineering could also help you in all different aspects of Engineering.

I would recommend it to anyone.