‘OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE’ MEGAN MAKES JAGUAR LAND ROVER HER HOME

Megan Lewis, 26, was named an Outstanding Apprentice for Engineering after she completed her degree apprenticeship in Electrical/Electronic Engineering with Jaguar Land Rover.

Megan joined the automotive manufacturer’s apprenticeship scheme in 2015 after gaining A Levels in mathematics, chemistry and physics.

As part of the apprenticeship, she has achieved distinction in an Engineering Foundation Degree and completed a NVQ – Level 4, both awarded by The Warwickshire College Group (WCG), and achieved a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Engineering with an automotive basis, awarded by the University of Warwick. She was also awarded the Outstanding Apprentice Award for the Engineering Sector by the Warwickshire College Group.

Her experience within JLR has been predominantly based within the Structural Test Laboratories, across a variety of testing functions, including hydraulic, vibration and environmental applications, on automotive components and subsystems. Her work with the automotive giant led to her being recognised and featured by Autocar's Great Women: Rising Stars 2021, Apprentice category.

Warwickshire College Group is a major provider of apprenticeships across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. It has worked with more than 1,000 employers nationwide in almost every sector of the economy. As well as working with Jaguar Land Rover, the college has worked with Aston Martin, the British Horse Society and bus, train and coach company National Express. It has also worked with smaller businesses such as Warwickshire-based independent sweet company Lisa’s Sweet Treats.

The college group is work with intrested employers to develop new apprenticeship provision for dog

Rossi cleans up with his apprenticeship at Karcher

Rossi Salvatore, 22, from Banbury won Outstanding Apprentice for Service Industries at a special celebration organised by Warwickshire College Group after completing a Chartered Institute of Marketing Level 3 Marketing Assistant apprenticeship with cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher.

Rossi, who studied at Royal Leamington Spa College, said: “I came out of school at 18 and was an estate agent for just over a year. I decided that wasn’t for me, so I took the plunge into the apprenticeship and never looked back.

“Being able to gain a qualification while working was a huge plus. Personally and professionally my confidence has grown no end over the last few years and now I’m confident to speak up and not be afraid to say that my idea is a good idea.

“I wasn’t expecting to win the award and grooming at intermediate level, and building a new plumbing apprenticeship facility at Royal Leamington Spa College, which is a conversion of the old ceramics building into a new gas centre. This will enhance the apprenticeship training provision in this important sector within Warwickshire. it came as a bit of a shock. I’ve really enjoyed the evening, it’s good to celebrate and see how far we have all come over the course of our apprenticeships.”

The college group is made up of six colleges, including Pershore, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick Trident, Rugby and Evesham.

Find out more as university exhibition marks National Apprenticeship Week

Businesses across the UK will be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week From February 7-11.

The University of Gloucestershire’s Business School will be hosting a special exhibition with apprenticeship providers and employers from across the South West.

This event gives visitors the opportunity to find out more about higher and degree apprenticeships, as well as network with providers and employers. A full programme of presentations and discussions is also planned.

Former university student Alexander Cameron successfully achieved a Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Gloucestershire.

“The Cyber Security Degree apprenticeship acted as a fantastic springboard into the next level of my career.

“By balancing study with industry experience through an apprenticeship, you achieve the best of both worlds; a fantastic education in cyber, whilst also gaining a business mindset and key work experience, critical in the world we live in today.

“This mindset extends outside of cyber, with the University of Gloucestershire actively encouraging curiosity and selfdevelopment to ensure that you grow professionally, academically and personally.”