Jack Bankier (18) from Falkirk is currently on the Mechanical Engineering Modern Apprenticeship programme at Forth Valley College while working with FieldCore – part of the worldwide GE Vernova Company.
He said: “As a Modern Apprentice with FieldCore, a GE Company, I will partake in a three year long apprenticeship/traineeship, in order to become a fully qualified mechanical fitter. During my first year Iwill be working alongside the other FieldCore apprentices and various industry-experienced lecturers, at Forth Valley College.
“This is an extremely large company that operates worldwide to provide services such as maintenance, installation, upgrades and repairs to power plants across five continents, with a specialization in heavy duty gas turbines and aeroderivative gas turbines. Once I have completed my modern apprenticeship, I will be deployed as a mechanical fitter to any site that will require FieldCore’s maintenance skill set.
“As a Modern Apprentice with I will attend Forth Valley College full-time initially, gaining valuable experience from my three years and performing engineering operations days, but also concentrating on the academic side of my first year with two days dedicated to completing a NC in Mechanical Engineering.
“The MA programme at Forth Valley College gives people the opportunity to get hands on with good companies, learn the skills needed to get fully qualified, and progress with their career in engineering.
“The programme has allowed me to further my career beyond just gaining a qualification, but also gaining a path to progress through the next three years with FieldCore, as part of a group of apprentices that will progress to become fully qualified and ready to work as a team.
“The Facilities at Forth Valley College are outstanding, there are multiple workshops to learn skills such as machining, welding, hand-skills, pipe bending, joinery, painting and decorating along with more complicated training facilities such as plant maintenance, chemical processing and mechanical testing. There are many more facilities at FVC to benefit student health and well-being such as a gym that is open to all students, a library with plenty of computers and research resources to allow students to study and more.
“The lecturers are one of the key aspects to learning at Forth Valley College and they are brilliant at providing real life applications to everything that we learn in the workshop and in the academic side of my modern apprenticeship. Each lecturer is more than just qualified for the job, they are industry experienced and many of them were apprentices themselves.
“The main reason I would recommend someone to apply for a Modern Apprenticeship at FVC is that it allows you to fast track your career, gain relevant qualifications and transferable experience and work with a wide range of people at an early age.
“The best part of my MA so far is meeting people from FieldCore that are further down the same path that I am on, showing me that through the MA programme I have a steady future ahead of me.
“As somebody that attended Forth Valley College before starting my MA, I know what it is like being a student and I have a couple pieces of advice to give to anyone who might be considering becoming, or is already a student at Forth Valley College. Play the long game, from the moment you set foot into the campus you are presenting yourself not only to the staff of FVC, but also to future employers - make the most of it. And secondly, build relationships, as the lecturers and staff at FVC can be crucial connections and the people you meet in your new course can become good friends.”