In looking to expand our specialist engineering base, we welcome Rory O’Ceallaigh to our development team. Rory joins us in the newly-created post of Apprentice Mechanical Engineering Technician.

Our apprenticeship scheme is a new programme designed to encourage young people into engineering whilst learning on the job and attending college to gain a formal academic qualification. Rory will attend Farnborough College of Technology one day a week for the next two years to complete his NVQ Level 4 in Mechanical Engineering (HNC). When Rory continues his studies beyond the NVQ course, it will contribute to his first year at University as the NVQ is equivalent to an HNC.

We’ve been developing a flexible apprenticeship programme over the past 12 months as part of a strategy to extend our capability and capacity in design, production and engineering. Rory joined us having completed his BTEC Level 3, gaining a distinction in Engineering along with A-level Maths and Physics at Alton College. This is his first professional role in industry.

The primary responsibility of the new post is in the production environment, but Rory will gain experience in every MSL engineering department to learn all aspects of the business. He will spend time alongside our design engineers, and he’ll work on development projects that make use of CAD, the 3D printers and other state-of-the-art rapid prototyping facilities we have in-house here at MSL. While at college, Rory will be studying academic subjects that include Maths, Engineering Science, Engineering Design and Workshop activities (milling and turning).

We want to contribute to and encourage the development of young people in engineering and recognise that University is not the best option for everyone. By tailoring the structure of our apprenticeship scheme to the individual, they can learn and also earn a salary. Rory is an exemplary example. He is very hands on and interested in all aspects of engineering. He stood out during the interview process, which included practical tests as well as interviews.

Rory likes to spend time with friends and lists working on soapbox derby projects among his hobbies. He has been quite successful at racing his soapboxes.