Degree apprentice student Jake Willshire is working at multi-national engineering company BorgWarner as part of his qualification.
Jake, pictured, is completing his fully-funded BEng Product Design and Development Degree Apprenticeshipwith the University of Greenwich while working at BorgWarner, a company that supplies the automotive industry.
Jake said: “I chose to complete a degree apprenticeship as I came out of school not really knowing where I wanted to go next. I left school with a set of GCSEs and A levels, and I had offers to study economics at various universities. However, I deferred that year, which was lucky because I found a love of mechanical engineering that summer.
“In the facility I work at, I am learning about the diesel fuel systems involved in commercial vehicles and the components that are tested and manufactured at this site.”
The university’s degree apprenticeship in product design and development explores the stages of creating a product from concept to launch. This includes working in concept studios, rapid prototyping, assembly and analysing performance.
Students gain expertise in materials, product design, computer-aided manufacturing, prototyping and project management. They graduate as skilled product design and development engineers who can work in multidisciplinary engineering environments.
Jake continued: “The idea of an apprenticeship really appealed to me as I wanted to continue earning while studying for a degree. At the moment, I have the freedom at work to understand topics covered at university and to really enrich my learning with the engineers showing me concepts I’ve studied. This helps me put my theory into practice and solidifying my learning. Lastly, the best part of the apprenticeship is that it is fully funded by the company and the government.”
Learn more about Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Greenwich here.
