Toby has been fascinated by how things work since he was young. As he got older, conversations with his granddad, who spent more than 30 years as a design engineer, inspired him to follow a similar path. That led him to apply for an apprenticeship, and he is now on a higher-level apprenticeship to become a nuclear technician with Cavendish Nuclear, working in the defence sector.
Toby, Mechanical Engineering at Wigan & Leigh College
Story Video
Background
Goal
Toby's apprenticeship includes an HND in Mechanical Engineering at Wigan & Leigh College. He chose the higher technical apprenticeship route because it combines on-the-job experience with an industry-recognised qualification. Students learn on industry-standard equipment, including the college's CNC machines and lathes, and are taught by tutors who have worked in their own sectors.
Employers contribute to the HND's course content, so the skills students learn meet the needs of their industry. The teaching team's specialist expertise ranges from Chartered Engineering to nuclear decommissioning and design and manufacture. The course builds the analytical thinking and mechanical engineering principles needed to design innovative products and take technical responsibility for complex engineering systems, assessed through written assignments, presentations and laboratory exercises.
Journey
Toby has been surprised by the quality of the equipment at Wigan & Leigh College and says he couldn't fault the support from his tutors, whose industry experience comes through in their teaching. His favourite unit so far is engineering design, which he finds especially interesting because it applies directly to his day-to-day role at Cavendish Nuclear.
Outcome
Over the next five years and beyond, Toby plans to keep progressing towards becoming a qualified mechanical designer. The HND gives him a Level 5 qualification valued across engineering, alongside real experience in the nuclear and defence sector.
After the HND, students can progress to the BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering top-up. It carries IET accreditation on behalf of the Engineering Council, opening the route to professional registration as a Chartered Engineer.
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