I enjoy working with my hands, I always have. I actually did similar work when I left school 20 years ago but moved on to be a security guard for many years.
As time went on, I realised that I missed manual work and I also really wanted to go back and continue my education. When my wife went back to work as our kids became older, I took the opportunity to go back to college with the aim of returning to a job I had found really fulfilling.
I chose to study for my NC in Fabrication and Welding and I’ve been with the Malin Group about six months now. It has been good to be able to work alongside experienced tradesmen, and to be trusted to work alone too.
I particularly like marking out, cutting and tack welding. I enjoy getting to do the work I learned at college, seeing how things are best done, and learning from experienced tradesmen in the workplace.
When I first started out, I was working with sheet metal. The materials I work with now are thicker and heavier and I prefer that as there is more that you can do, and more that you can build which keeps the job interesting.
One of the best things about working with the Malin Group is getting the genuine opportunity to learn and be properly trained. I still have a bit to learn about the work I am doing now, and in the future I’d like to learn more about different types of welding and understand more about the different types of metal that we use.
Another thing I really enjoy on the job is the problem solving element. I like working out different ways to get things to fit and I enjoy seeing how different tradesmen tackle different problems.
Doing a job and seeing it completed is also very satisfying. I like to see the things I am working on take shape and go from being all different parts into one completed item.
I am working on the Hinkley project at the moment. It feels good to be working on something important and to be trusted to do so. I do feel proud to be involved with it and I get a real sense of satisfaction as I complete different parts of the job.
I’m glad to have returned to this line of work and I am really happy to be learning again. I think it is important to do what you enjoy. If I was to give one piece of advice to a future apprentice it would be to listen to the people with experience, learn from them and take on every bit of knowledge you can.