Liniar Welcomes Its Newest Apprentice

With an apprenticeship programme that goes back over four decades, Liniar fully recognises the value of on-the-job learning, and as a method of personal and professional development it was something that attracted Louis Rawson to joining the Liniar team.

After recently completing his A-levels, Louis had a variety of career paths to choose from including university or full-time employment. Asked why he chose to go down the apprenticeship route, he explained, “You get to learn and work at the same time, so you really get the best of both worlds.”

Louis has now completed his first month in the Design and Development team, and of his 3-year NVQ level 3 apprenticeship in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering. Taking some time out to describe his experience so far, he says, “I’ve spent most of my time getting to grips with AutoCAD, the main software application we use for creating wall charts, and foiling drawings which are used in the lamination hall to ensure the right sized foils are used. I’m really enjoying it, and I’ve learned a lot about Liniar products and what goes into manufacturing them.”

With a keen interest in computing Louis has achieved both a GCSE and A-Level in I.T., which are standing him in good stead as a member of the Design and Development team. Explaining what he finds appealing about working with computers, he says, “I’ve always loved learning the ins and outs of how things work and teaching myself how to use different software.”

Asked if he has encountered any difficulties, Louis says, “At the moment everything has been really interesting and not too difficult, but I’m sure there’s a lot more to come. I will be doing things like 3D modelling soon and though I’m looking forward to it I don’t expect it to be easy.”

He receives the full support of his colleagues, including Design and Development Director Chris Armes, who joined the company as an apprentice tool maker himself 19 years ago. Chris said, “Louis is really fitting in, I remember how I felt in my first month and I know how important it is to be made to feel welcome from the very start. Louis has joined a fantastic team and I know they will help nurture his talent, it’s great that he has the confidence to ask questions and I’m looking forward to seeing him develop and grow into his role.”

Louis acknowledges, “Everyone’s been very helpful and every time I have a question, they’ll answer it straight away.”

With Louis comfortably settling into his new role and thoroughly enjoying his learning journey, he offers some advice for other young people who may be considering an apprenticeship as a career path.

“I know a lot of people that applied to companies and were not successful, so I made sure I was well prepared for my interview at Liniar.”

He continues, “I got advice on the kind of interview questions I might be asked, and so was ready to talk about my strengths and weaknesses, that kind of thing. I would say 100% go for an apprenticeship because it feels like the best route for me, and I’d definitely recommend doing some research and preparation.”

We asked Louis the classic interview question of, where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time, to which he replied, “Hopefully if all goes well, still here as a full-time employee and doing more qualifications.”

To find out more about a career at Liniar visit https://www.liniar.co.uk/careers/ and be sure to check our blog for updates on Louis’s progress.