Apprenticeships prove the right route for Arthur

A forensic engineer at SureScreen Scientifics – the sister company of SureScreen Diagnostics – has spoken about how his apprenticeship helped fast-track his career.

In his role today, Arthur Green investigates how microscopic cracks in metal components can lead to traffic accidents and mechanical failures.

He said he is grateful for the opportunities he was given during his apprenticeship, after he was given more freedom than he expected as a new starter when he joined the firm as an apprentice materials technician eight years ago.

Arthur, from Matlock, examines metal components salvaged from accidents or industrial machinery breakdowns, such as a sheared bolt or a broken gear, which are identified as being the cause of the incident.

His job is then to find out why the metal failed in the first place, whether it was improperly cast or badly maintained or fitted, meaning it failed to withstand the service conditions.

SureScreen is one of the leading mechanical failure labs in the country and when he first joined, Arthur expected to spend his formative years carrying out minor jobs.

But at that time, the company’s founder, Jim Campbell, and senior scientific officer Colin Barson, were winding down after long and distinguished careers and they encouraged Arthur to take on tasks perhaps more suited to a more experienced employee to see how he got on.

Then, after his initial three-year apprenticeship, Arthur was funded while he studied for his engineering HNC qualification, and he is now a fully qualified forensic engineer.

He said: “Looking back, it’s incredible to think that they would invite me to carry out my own investigations on a component and let me get on with it, albeit with their help and guidance, but now I realise how important that was to my development.

“Apprenticeships cover a broad range of styles from business to business.

“When I was doing my apprenticeship, I heard from other apprentices working at larger firms who were doing more learning than actual work while I was getting more hands-on and getting real-life experience.

“It took a while, but soon I was able to predict why something failed just by looking at the metal component, even before I put it under the microscope.

“There are definitely upsides to going to university, especially when it comes to working in some areas of engineering, but the apprenticeship route has been brilliant for me and I was able to buy my own house three years ago, which I doubt I’d have done if I’d gone down the academic route.”