National Apprenticeship Week gives us an opportunity to highlight the range of apprenticeships available while working with us. Reece Thomas is a Degree Apprentice Project Manager working in Major Works in London and shares his experience.
Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?
I’m a very practical person and I just wanted to go straight into the working world after completing my A Levels. I chose to do an apprenticeship because I didn’t want to finish school and go straight into more school. Everyone told me that university is nothing like school, which it isn’t I suppose, but the idea of racking up over £40,000 in debt as a first step in life really didn’t appeal or make sense to me at all.
I also wanted that crucial on-the-job practical learning that is impossible to achieve through university, even with a placement year. Everyone knows there is only so much a book can teach you and we all hear the horror stories of people graduating from university and being jobless for months, if not years. These factors just put me off even more.
All that worrying is eliminated through completing an apprenticeship as you are nearly 100% guaranteed a job at the end of it. You have a qualification and the experience to back it up which makes you an extremely more attractive candidate over a university graduate. I strongly feel like I made the right choice and the only thing I am missing out on is the University social life. Of course, that is still achievable while doing an apprenticeship if that’s what you really want to do, and the pay will definitely cover you for all your needs.
I believe doing an apprenticeship gives you a massive head start in life that is unachievable anywhere else right now. This is until they become the norm and more favourable over a university degree, so I’d recommend doing a degree apprenticeship now while they’re still relatively rare.
What made you choose to do your apprenticeship at SGN?
Like most people, I didn’t just apply for one apprenticeship and get it. I applied for over 45 apprenticeships, progressing through the stages for most of them and giving up lots of school time to attend interviews and assessment days. I did all this for most of it to be a waste of time as I was rejected over and over and over again.
Despite applying for lots of apprenticeships, SGN did stand out to me. This is not only because of the incredible pay you just don’t see in any other apprenticeships but because of the vast history and renowned status of the company. SGN’s project management apprenticeship offered me exactly what I wanted, has a huge salary and gives you a job for life. What more could you want?
It was also the only apprenticeship my dad supported me with and wanted me to get due to his own experience and knowledge of the company. For these reasons, this was the only apprenticeship I truly wanted and much to my delight, I was offered a job after months of trying and waiting.
To this day, over six months later, I still haven’t had a response from most of the jobs I applied for and I’m still waiting to hear back by “next week Friday” on whether I get the job or not.
What have you enjoyed most about your time at SGN so far?
My favourite part about working at SGN is being able to see what is required to supply millions of people with one of, if not, the most important thing they need in life to live comfortably in the modern world. This comes with all of the behind-the-scenes experiences that a very small percentage of people actually get to see. The work we do is fascinating and there is always more to learn so you will never be bored.
What are your hopes for your career with us?
Due to the nature and skills required when working with gas, SGN gives you a job for life if that’s what you want. I have come to believe my career at SGN is whatever I want it to be. I see myself staying at SGN after my four-year apprenticeship, initially gaining as much knowledge and skills as possible from my more experienced peers. Eventually, I would like to progress into more senior roles and being able to make an impact to millions of people’s lives.
