I joined Heathrow as part of the 2015 Engineering apprenticeship intake, but my background isn’t in Engineering – I have a Performing Arts Diploma and I’ve had a variety of performing roles including being a family entertainer on board Caribbean cruise ships. I was also a volunteer performer at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
I won the Apprentice of the Year award as part of a wider cohort in my first year at Kingston College, where I was studying towards a HNC in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, as part of the apprenticeship.
My most memorable moment at Heathrow was producing a video in 2017 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Heathrow Engineering apprenticeship scheme, which was played on the night. I met many inspirational individuals, as well as colleagues who had joined the very scheme I was on back in 1977 in its inaugural year. I learned so much about the great career opportunities available at the airport, and it was amazing to see colleagues who joined the scheme in 1977 still had Engineering roles within the company. Some even had their children and grandchildren working at Heathrow! This is a great scheme. Heathrow cares for and looks after their apprentices throughout their careers.
Personally, I started ‘late’, I didn’t join the scheme at 16, 17, or 18 years old like others, but I’ve found that it’s one of the best apprenticeships out there and I can’t recommend it enough! You’re never too old to learn a new skill or change your career direction.
