I am Jacob Hardcastle and I am a Process Technician working at Thomas Dudley Limited in the plastics division, I work on injection moulding machines.
I decided on an apprenticeship rather than University as I am able to be paid and have a qualification at the end of the apprenticeship.
I applied to Thomas Dudley as it was something completely new to me, an industry that I didn’t know existed until I joined.
One of the best things about an apprenticeship is gaining knowledge from work and college whist being paid to do both.
If there was a negative I would say that having to shadow people when doing new things, as I like to be told what to do and then left to do it on my own and if I get stuck then I will ask for help
I am on an Engineering Technician Level 3 course with Dudley College but also day to day in house I have learned how to successfully make products using techniques and skills, this means that I am able to complete a process and go full circle when there is a problem in order to sort it out. I will continue to learn new skills and gain understanding daily.
In the mould shop there are some lovely people who can make you laugh and that makes the whole day go quicker, some days are good and some not so much depending on what has happened during the night that we have to deal with.
I see my career at Thomas Dudley and hopefully I will become a senor technician or head of the technical department, as I would have full control of the machines and their processes.
Jacob was asked if he would recommend Thomas Dudley for an apprenticeship.
He said “Yes I would if you want a new industry to go into then injection moulding is the way to go”.