Raising the bar on career prospects

THE COMPRESSED Air and Vacuum Technician (CAVT) apprenticeship is a practical, industry-led route that is helping to build the skills the compressed air sector needs now and for the future.  The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) spoke to two apprentices about their experience to date.

Hazel Neal’s Story

They say that in business, it’s not what you know, but who you know. For Hazel Neal, a newly qualified Compressed Air and Vacuum Technician apprentice working for BCAS member, JDS Compressors, it’s really been a combination of both.

A chance encounter with a JDS compressor engineer in his parents’ pub led him to consider the apprenticeship scheme and now, almost three years later, it’s fair to say that Hazel knows quite a lot about the industry too - thanks to the expert training and support he’s received from his colleagues. "I’d been doing some bar work in my parents’ pub but knew that it wasn’t my long-term career ambition," Hazel explained. "I like practical work, getting out and meeting people and although to begin with, I knew nothing about the industry, I soon learnt that it’s really diverse. No two days are ever the same.

"I started working for James Shaw, the MD of JDS Compressors in April 2023, and straightaway, James sent me out on site with one of his senior engineers. There’s nothing like learning on your feet and on the job - I was working on pipework installations on my first day."

From pub work to compressor engineering

Hazel’s understanding of the compressed air industry has grown considerably since the early days of his apprenticeship.  

"If you’d have asked me when I was pulling pints in the pub, I’d have never imagined myself in an engineering role. But very quickly into the apprenticeship I learnt that I enjoy the challenge of being on site, figuring things out and looking at new ways to overcome problems,” he continued. "James also puts a lot of trust in me and I’m starting to carry out certain service and maintenance jobs on my own now. I like to think I’m repaying that trust with hard work and by helping support my other colleagues."

We asked Hazel what advice he’d give to new apprentices just starting out and his answer was clear: learn from each other.  "I studied the theoretical parts of my apprenticeship online and didn’t know anyone else that was doing the course at the same time as me. Looking back, it would have been good to have been able to talk to other apprentices that were going through the same learning as me,” he stated. "So, my advice is to get in touch with other students - start a group chat, compare work, ask each other for help."

Addressing the industry’s growing skills gap

James, Hazel’s boss was also keen to talk about the benefits of taking on an apprentice. "We are facing a significant skills gap as experienced engineers retire from an ageing workforce. If we want to provide the best quality engineering services to our customers, then the onus must be on us, the employers, to train the next generation of skilled technicians," he explained. 

"I know many employers are unsure about how quickly an apprentice can prove useful to a business. My experience is that they add value from day one. Hazel quickly became an essential member of our team and a real asset to the business. It’s been a great experience for everyone." 

Mel Middleton Duff’s Story

With 26 years’ industry experience under her belt and a thriving compressed air business, Mel is the latest recruit to start the compressed air and vacuum technician (CAVT) apprenticeship scheme.

Opting for the remote learning route through Cogent Skills, Mel is excited to be starting the apprenticeship. "Running the business with my husband has seen me involved in all aspects of distribution, from sales and service to exhibitions and events," she stated. 

Lifelong learning within the compressed air sector

"My customers know they can rely on me for sound advice and technical support, which I have gained during my many years working in the compressed air industry. But I wanted to supplement these skills with a recognised qualification, and the apprenticeship route offered the perfect opportunity.

"I’m the current chair of the BCAS training and development committee, and I’m passionate about encouraging young people into our industry: an industry which can offer some fantastic career opportunities. There are a host of BCAS training courses, which we’re working hard to promote to members and end-users to help improve standards and safety across the sector.  

"Therefore, it’s important that I lead by example. As much as my apprenticeship journey is to further my own skills, I want to show others the benefits of lifelong learning too," she affirmed. 

For more information: 

www.bcas.org.uk

Tel: 0207 935 2464