A learner from Trehafod has beat off stiff competition from hundreds of others across Wales to become one of just 10 new apprentices at a top aircraft engineering firm.
Coleg y Cymoedd learner, 18-year-old Cameron Forbes, has landed a spot on the three-year aircraft apprenticeship maintenance programme with St Athan based company, CAERDAV, one of the UK’s leading providers of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
With a keen interest in fixing things, Cameron has been working on repairing bikes in his spare time since he was 13. After undertaking a mechanical engineering course at Coleg y Cymoedd, Cameron had his sights set on becoming an aircraft engineer and is now encouraging other young people to consider the apprenticeship route as part of National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from the 7th – 13th February 2022.
Cameron said: “My dream is to be an aircraft technician. After my apprenticeship, I want to complete my B1 license which will allow me to qualify as a licensed aircraft engineer. I’ve always loved fixing things and now I will get paid while I’m training. I am hoping the apprenticeship leads to a full-time position with CAERDAV and am looking forward to seeing what the future brings for my career.”
To get a place on the highly competitive CAERDAV apprenticeship programme, which receives more than 170 applications each year, Cameron had to complete a series of mechanical and numerical reasoning tests, attend an interview where he had to give a presentation on his personal attributes, and undertake a hands-on skill assessment.
Before deciding to pursue an apprenticeship, Cameron took part in a pre-apprenticeship course at Coleg y Cymoedd. His apprenticeship will begin this September, but in the meantime, Cameron is studying at college and will work with CAERDAV during the summer holidays to boost his experience.
From September, Cameron will be on-site at CAERDAV one day a week with the rest of his time spent at college. For his final year, he will work at the company full-time. Following the three-year apprenticeship, Cameron hopes to secure a full-time position at CAERDAV as an aircraft mechanic.
David Howells, Head of Computing and Engineering at Coleg y Cymoedd said: “We are incredibly proud that Cameron’s dedication and hard work has paid off, allowing him to beat competition from across South Wales to secure the opportunity with CAERDAV. We’re looking forward to following Cameron’s next steps as he starts his career.
“It’s great to see learners from the college achieving their dreams. We have worked closely with industry to design courses and apprenticeships that ensure our learners leave college equipped with the skills they need to enter industries career ready.”
