GCU Graduate Apprentice student reflects on academic journey as part of National Apprenticeship Week

GCU is taking part in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2022 - an annual week of recognition for Graduate Apprentices across the UK.

We spoke to Gregg Shanks; Graduate Apprenticeship Engineering (Design and Manufacture) student and Maintenance Engineer for pharmaceutical company Curia, who shared his journey into starting a Graduate Apprentice course and the experience of balancing work with study:

What was it about doing a Graduate Apprenticeship that appealed to you?

“I want to progress towards management, and having looked at such positions when they have been advertised, many of the companies require the candidate to have an Engineering degree. I’ve also experienced redundancy, and I know how quickly things can change, so I want to develop myself to give me the best possible chance in life (future proofing I suppose you could call it).

For me, the Graduate Apprenticeship is the best way for me to achieve this. It allows me to study towards gaining this qualification, as well as working full time in an engineering role.”

Since starting your course, how have you found the balance between studying and working?

“I’m not going to lie; it was pretty difficult at the beginning, I didn’t realise how much studying was needed. There will be days at work where I’ve been fault finding on a system for the full shift, and the last thing I want to do is go home to study – but you find a way. The workload doesn’t get better/easier, but how you deal with it does.”

Was studying at university something you ever expected to do when you started working?

“I always wanted to work towards a degree, but didn’t know how I would get there. I have a 3-year-old daughter who requires just a wee bit of my attention!

This made me think it would be a juggling act that couldn’t work. So far I’ve been wrong, and hopefully I continue to be wrong. “

Find out more about National Apprenticeship Week 2022 on their website.

By Rachael McAlonan

Got a SCEBE or GSBS story? Email me at Rachael.McAlonan@gcu.ac.uk or connect with me on social media.