3 mins Read 
27/06/2024 Dan‘s ABT Journey
After joining the company in 2022 as an apprentice engineer, Dan has recently transitioned to a Junior Electronics Design Engineer. This transition comes with a change in education with Dan moving to a part-time university course that in 6 years’ time, will see him obtain his Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng degree from Teesside University.
What was the inspiration behind changing your educational path?
I chose to switch from the apprenticeship to pursue university-level education as I want to deepen my knowledge of Electronics theory. Although the apprenticeship day release did provide me with valuable practical skills, I felt as though I was not being challenged enough. Overall, I decided that the higher education route was best suited for the R&D role I wished to progress into.
I have discussed my ambition to become an Electronics Design Engineer and eventually Senior Electronics Design Engineer with my manager and I am working towards these targets with help from the business’ PDP (personal development plan) system.
How has ABT supported you through your educational journey?
After researching various courses and universities, I expressed my interest in leaving my apprenticeship in favour of pursuing a higher level of education to my manager. We then had a discussion for what’s best for my career and with the company’s full support, I left my apprenticeship to pursue my degree.
In addition to the financial support ABT has provided me, I have been given opportunities to work on a plethora of challenging projects that have complimented my academic learning and expanded my skillset.
I have received support from my colleagues to help me tackle tough challenges whilst being at ABT. One notable example is Ben Coote, an Electronics Design Engineer. Ben helped walk me through my first PCBA design using Altium Designer and hosted multiple reviews of my work, providing valuable feedback.
What would you say to other people who are on the fence about doing an apprenticeship/supported degree with ABT?
An apprenticeship/supported degree with ABT is a great way to gain crucial industry experience alongside studying. The skills you will develop and the mentorship you will receive from experienced professionals is priceless at the start of your career. I would strongly recommend exploring this avenue over a traditional education pathway as I believe you will come out of it far more capable and in a stronger position to progress your career.
How would you describe your experience so far
My time at ABT has been incredibly rewarding. I have had the pleasure of working with a range of talented and helpful engineers who have provided industry insight that has aided my development. The company has provided me with an abundance of opportunities to work on innovative and bespoke Battery Management Systems for a range of interesting projects. I am excited about my future at ABT and hope my ambition will lead me into a more senior role within the business.
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