Former Bridgwater Academy student Thomas Long, aged 17 from Bridgwater has recently become the youngest person to be accepted onto the prestigious Engineering Apprenticeship programme at Yeo Valley.

In September 2013 Yeo Valley, in conjunction with Bridgwater College, decided to implement a new engineering apprenticeship programme to enable existing employees to re-train with the company as engineers. In year one, six apprentices were appointed from over 40 internal applicants, and such was the success of the programme that a further six vacancies were advertised internally in 2014.

Thomas Long, whilst not then a Yeo Valley employee, took the courageous step of writing to Yeo Valley and telling them of his ambition to be an engineer. He was invited to an assessment day, which he passed with flying colours, and then went on to excel in the interview and gain a place on the programme and, with it, the possibility of a long term career with the company.

“I’m just a normal boy straight out of school who was looking for a route into the engineering industry; as a career in engineering is what I’ve wanted to do since I was young. Throughout school I have always enjoyed Maths, Physics, Design and Technology and Engineering, and because of the positive experience I had from studying at the College previously and the modern and new engineering facilities, I knew that I wanted to do my Level 3 Engineering training at the College.

“My involvement with the engineering side of Bridgwater Carnival further convinced me that an engineering career was for me. Yeo Valley interested me as an apprenticeship option as I felt combining academic learning with actual work in a workplace would give me the best way of improving my skills and knowledge.

“The apprenticeship at Yeo Valley is maintenance-based and offers me the chance to work on different things every day allowing me to have a greater knowledge off lots of components and processes in one place. Bridgwater College and Yeo Valley have been very supportive in guiding me through my apprenticeship and helping me to adjust to working life from school. I’m finding my apprenticeship at Yeo Valley really enjoyable and the best decision I could have made after leaving school. I would really recommend anyone who wants to enter the engineering industry to think about looking for an apprenticeship at Bridgwater College.”

 Genene Smith, Training Officer for Engineering at Bridgwater College who was involved in the three days of panel interviews with Yeo Valley said,

“Thomas did exceptionally well. He was competing with candidates who already worked at Yeo Valley and, coming straight from school, had far less experience than the others, but despite this he excelled. He was one of the strongest candidates on the assessment day and at interview he answered the questions well and his passion and desire came shining through. He actually had their engineering managers fighting over which site would get him! He has now been on the programme since September and is doing very well with his training in College and in the workplace.”

Stephen Hawkins Personnel Training & Development Manager at Yeo Valley commented,

“Bridgwater College has been working with Yeo Valley for many years, delivering a range of training programmes. We are delighted to now be working in partnership with them on a long term, sustainable apprenticeship programme for engineers across our five sites. As the programme moves into its second year, it is rewarding to see the value apprentices can bring to the company.

“Thomas posed an interesting dilemma for us because we had planned to offer the posts internally only again and then open the apprenticeship to external candidates next year. With Thomas being under 18 this was another factor we needed to consider; however he was excellent in interview and has approached the opportunity with great maturity. He was recently involved in the annual maintenance shut down process at our Cannington Site and got to have real hands on experience of the engineering requirements we require.”

If you would like more information about apprenticeships or studying at Bridgwater College please contact our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234.