Apprentice Case Study: Anisha Roberts

Anisha had always been interested in engineering but, as a mum of two, the time never felt quite right to change career paths. After being inspired to take the plunge by a colleague who retrained at 60, Anisha applied for an apprentice position with Williams Jet Tenders, joined the level 3 programme at OAS in 2021, and hasn’t looked back!

We talked to her about what it feels like to finally follow her dream, how seemingly small actions can significantly increase sustainability, and what it felt like to design and manufacture 15 trophies for the 2022 JACKfm Brick Awards.

Why did you choose an apprenticeship?

I’ve always been a practical person with an interest in engineering, fixing things for my friends, but as a young mum with two small children, university didn’t feel like a realistic choice for me. I’ve researched engineering apprenticeships probably every year since I left school, but there was always a reason not to go for it.

I was working as a Teaching Assistant at a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school when one of my colleagues left to become a police call handler – she was 60! I thought ‘if she can do it at 60, I can definitely do it at 30!’ Sometimes giving someone that boost of inspiration is all it takes – I’d really love to give the same confidence to other people now I’m following my dream.

I’m also very grateful to have a super supportive family who help me to juggle my apprenticeship with my other responsibilities. It’s not always easy, but I’m very determined and focused on the bigger picture. I want to show my kids that if you’re focused and work hard, you can achieve anything.

Did you have a particular career in mind when you made your decision? If so, what, and why?

 No – I didn’t know too much about engineering, I studied it at sixth form for a year, but that was very different to my apprenticeship. I knew it would be something that would interest me but, even now, I’m still quite open as to where my strengths and opportunities lie. I’m quite laid back so I’m enjoying the journey, and I know I’ll end up doing something I enjoy.

Did you have an idea of what an apprenticeship would involve before you came to OAS?

I knew it would be a more practical pathway than university. In fact, my apprenticeship has been more technical and theoretical than I expected, but I actually really like to know why I’m doing what I do - it really helps to cement things in my brain! Handing in completed assignments is also another satisfying achievement. As a more practical person, they’re not my strong point but I’ve been getting good grades, so I’m proud of myself.

What are the most memorable projects you’ve worked on at OAS so far?

In my first year, taking part in The Apprentice with JACKfm was really fun, it was great to work as a team with apprentices from other groups who I wouldn’t have got to know otherwise. The Brick Awards project was really good as well [Anisha and her teammate won a competition to design and manufacture 15 trophies for JACKfm’s 2022 Brick Awards]. It was such a great opportunity to use all the skills we’d learned so far, and so satisfying to see all the worthy winners at the ceremony holding the awards that we’d put so much time and effort into.

More recently, working with the owner of Williams Jet Tenders to learn how to manufacture the silicon bags was a really good experience for me, and it’s great to have gained such a rare skill.

How has the apprenticeship programme been beneficial to you and your career?

I thought of my apprenticeship as an investment in my future and was expecting to be pretty poor for a few years, but I’m actually paid more now than when I was a teaching assistant. I didn’t want to become a teacher, which meant that job offered no progression, whereas now I have a whole career ahead of me and I’ve just bought a house! I feel really appreciated by my company, they recognise and reward my development and success. My skills have also come in very handy with the house move - I’ve been doing lots of DIY!

What would you say are the benefits and what advice would you offer to those looking to apply to the OAS apprenticeship programme?

 If you’re a more hands-on person, like I am, then an apprenticeship will really suit you. You’re learning exactly how to do your job at the same time as earning money, learning how to be part of a team, gaining all sorts of skills, getting experience in the workplace. Also the way the course is delivered feels much more achievable than a university degree. We train in smaller steps, so the next goal post is always in sight, which I find a more manageable and much less daunting way to learn. Friends that went to university have told me that the facilities at OAS trump theirs too!

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I learn and achieve something new every day, and that makes me feel good about myself. I build boats for a living, which is already something I never imagined I’d be doing, and I’m still learning how to do things that I didn’t know existed when I started! For example, I’ve been learning to make silicon bags as part of the infusion process, which helps to improve the speed, efficiency and economy of boat manufacture. It’s a specialist skill that only a couple of people in the business have, and now I can do it too!

I also enjoy being around like-minded people who are passionate about what they’re doing, and knowing that everything I’m doing is helping me to build a career for myself, for my family and for the future is a great feeling.

What are your future career plans?

I’ve been working with the owner of the business recently, and I know they consider us an investment in the organisation’s future. They want us to learn the whole production side of the business to support succession planning and agility. By the end of my apprenticeship, I’ll be able to slot into any team within the production side of things, and they see us as having key roles here going forward. When I spoke to the owner about my development, he indicated that there will be career progression for me at Williams Jet Tenders.

I also want to get involved in projects that make engineering more inclusive. As a woman in engineering, people can underestimate you. I don’t let it bother me, but I challenge the ingrained unconscious bias. You can sometimes see that you’re surprising someone, or they’ll say something like, ‘you’re much stronger than I thought’. My hand span is smaller than an average male’s, so it’s sometimes tricky using some of the tools, but if I can show people that a female engineer is just as capable and competent as a male one, and start to change people’s expectations, then it will help to make it easier for other women to follow in my footsteps and make the future industry more inclusive.

Having worked in an SEN school as well, I know a few of the people were interested in engineering, so I’m looking for opportunities to be able to support that. And I want to show people that it’s never too late to build a new career!