Although initially undecided about the direction his career should take, Caleb is now firmly set on a career in engineering.
After leaving secondary school, Caleb completed a Level 3 Diploma in Engineering at Northern Regional College’s Coleraine campus. After working as a chef for a few years, he returned to engineering as a Higher Level Apprentice, being taken on as AGR Automation’s first apprentice when the Scottish company, which designs and manufactures high speed automated machinery, started up in Ballymena a few ago.
Following the successful completion of his Foundation Degree, Caleb has taken on a new role as Commissioning Engineer with AGR.
During his time at Northern Regional College, Caleb was an exemplary student. Earlier this year he was awarded the Dayle Smyth Endeavour award, an award presented annually to a top performing Engineering student.
Congratulating Caleb on his graduation, Ryan Logan, Operations Manager (NI) with AGR Automation, said the company’s excellent working relationship with the College was “mutually beneficial”:
“Companies like ourselves can benefit from the expertise of College staff who in turn are informed about our business needs so they can ensure that students are equipped with the right skills set,” he explained.
The two-year Advanced Manufacturing Engineering HLA is a work-based programme designed to provide the manufacturing and engineering sector in Northern Ireland with high grade technicians and engineers who have practical skills, combined with a higher education qualification.
Students spend four days with their employer and one day in College so they can ‘earn as they learn’ and allowing them to get a qualification without the burden of student debt.
The programme facilitates progression from Level 3 Apprenticeship and could also encourage future progression to Level 6 qualifications, enabling apprentices to work towards Incorporated Engineer status.