An inside look at a Maziak apprenticeship

A core principle we have at Maziak is helping others. This is true for our customers, members of our team and our apprentices that we take on in our efforts to equip them with the confidence and skills that they need to make it in the industry.

In this article we will be talking about our apprenticeships and what they entail in more detail, as well as key goals that are put in place for our apprenticeships to achieve as they undertake the experience.

How long does an apprenticeship with Maziak typically last?

We offer a 4-year apprenticeship which runs alongside a college course at Tresham College in Corby, which is part of the Bedford College Group. We take on students who are going into level 3 of the Mechatronics course- this course covers mechanical, minor electric and pneumatics.

Since this is primarily a workplace placement, the apprentice spends four days at our facility with one day release for college. The subject matter of this course is in line with the work that we carry out and if a student completes the course successfully, they will gain a City and Guilds certification.

What does the apprenticeship at Maziak consist of?

Firstly, the apprentice will go through the Field Service Engineer induction which takes place over a week. This induction period is crucial for our apprentices to carry out if they want to accompany our engineers out in the field. Below are other examples of training that our apprentices have to go through at the beginning of the apprenticeship.

• Health and Safety induction
• Asbestos training
• Manual handling
• Abrasive wheels
• Frame erection
• Electrical testing
• Oxyacetylene use

Asbestos training, manual handling and abrasive wheels are all carried out online, whereas frame erection, electrical testing and use of oxyacetylene are all carried in a practical environment. This variety of online and practical workshops works well for our apprenticeships and prevents things from becoming too overwhelming.

What should the apprentice hope to achieve by the end of the apprenticeship?

Our aim for every apprentice is that they complete the apprenticeship with confidence in their abilities to manage the following types of tasks:

• Installation of equipment
• Servicing of equipment
• Equipment and electrical fault finding
• Electrical testing
• Installation up to a supplied isolator

Each apprentice is under the management and the guidance of our fully-qualified engineers; the engineer will instruct the apprentice to complete the servicing under their watch ensuring that it is safe to do so and that equipment will be fit for the customer to use by the project’s end.
 

What happens once the apprentice has reached the end of the apprenticeship?

Once the apprentice has gained enough confidence in their servicing skills, we then send them onto Manufactures Training. This means that by the end of the 4 years they will have gained experience in the different capabilities that Maziak has to offer, passed their college assessments and the end-point assessment, all in preparation to be awarded their City & Guilds Certification and become a junior engineer part of the Maziak team.

Apprentice Success

We had the pleasure of training and guiding Draig Trinder towards his achievement of City & Guilds Certification. Upon completing his apprenticeship on the 19th December 2022, Draig was presented with the tooling and keys to the Maziak company van so that he could start servicing customers and put all the expert knowledge he gained to use. (Picture on the right shows Draig with his City and Guilds Certificate and stood next to Service Operations Manager, Dan Keeber.) 

If you would like more information about our apprenticeships and feel like you might be a good for us or know somebody who would be, you can get in touch with us at enquiries@maziak.co.uk or on 01933 222000.