My name is Luke Slater and I am a plant maintenance apprentice at A-Plant, part of the Ashtead Plant Hire group
Before A-Plant, I was working full time in a manufacturing company so I could gain work experience but I was eager to learn a new skill so when the apprenticeship opportunity at A-Plant arose, I pushed myself forward and was successful in getting the plant maintenance apprenticeship vacancy at A-Plant in Oldbury. This was perfect as I could gain a qualification with a reputable employer whilst getting paid!
I started with A-Plant in 2015 and enrolled on to a Level 2 plant maintenance apprenticeship studying at Reaseheath College in Cheshire on a block release basis and working in the A-Plant service centre in Oldbury. My responsibilities include maintaining and repairing plant machinery which A-Plant hires out to customers.
As well as working in the service centre and attending college, I‘ve had the opportunity to participate in a variety of challenges and projects within A-Plant such as the Brathay apprentice challenge, whereby A-Plant nominated a team of apprentices to take part in a series of work related challenges. One of the challenges was to serve breakfast at a homeless shelter in Birmingham which I coordinated and I also supported 2 careers fairs to encourage young people to embark on an apprenticeship.
By 2018, I will hopefully have attained my Level 3 in Plant maintenance and I would love to get more involved with HS2 project and attracting more young people into our industry.
I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone. Apprenticeships are the best way forward I think as you get the best of both worlds as you are earning while you are learning. Have a look at this video which myself and some of my peers starred in and co-produced to inform young people about why apprenticeships are such a good thing!
