b'Partner News Spring 2022 19EnterpriseRob Jay, Apprentice Engineer at Fundamentals, talks about his apprenticeship journey so far and his future goals as an engineer.Solving problems - the apprentice What made you want to get intocomplete an apprenticeship as a way toTell us more about your engineering and why Fundamentalsenter engineering at the ground floor andFundamentals experience and your particularly? build on the skills I gained earlier in life. career journey to date?Helping people is important to me. WeOver the first two years of myWorking in product engineering is as face a number of challenges globally andapprenticeship I gained a BTEC invaried as it is challenging. I have produced engineering will be key in addressing them. Ielectronic and electrical engineering asbespoke equipment for customers, gravitated towards solving problems duringwell as qualifications in hands-on skillsdesigned and built automated test sets childhood; my grandfather was an engineersuch as mechanical maintenance and PLCand performed troubleshooting to keep and since learning in his workshop I haveprogramming. At work I spent the first yearproduction of our main product running. been designing, building and fixing things. learning to build and wire electrical control panelsskills I now use regularly.In the department we start each morning Having decided to pursue engineeringwith a quick meeting to discuss our aims as a profession I wanted to be part of aI then moved into our productionfor that day and report any problems business where I could perform severaldepartment, manufacturing parts for ourencountered the previous day. Its a nice roles. Fundamentals is unusual in thatmain product and gaining insight intoway to keep everyone up to date and it designs, manufactures and installs itsmanufacturing methods involved in batchallows any urgent unplanned work to be equipment so it was a perfect fit. My timeproduction. When the summer holidaysdiscussed. One of the things I enjoy most at Fundamentals has afforded me a broadcame around I took a City and Guildsabout working in product engineering is experience base on which to build a careerwelding course, this helped me appreciatethe variety of projects Ive been involved and allows me to work alongside othersome of the challenges involved in designin, from working with microcontrollers to professionals with a range of skillsets. and manufacture as well as becomingconducting thermal tests.something of a hobby. I then moved into Tell us about your apprenticeship product engineering where my versatility isIve been fortunate to work alongside some used to the full.extremely talented and knowledgeable I spent a large portion of my adult lifepeople. For almost anything I engage in working towards a career in clinicalIm currently studying a HNC in electronictheres someone I can go to for assistance, psychology but began to feel I would findand electrical engineering while completingits a friendly group and we work well engineering more rewarding. I decided tomy NVQ. together.'