Young People Week - Lee Scott

My journey with Katoni started in 2018 as a student on the Career Ready program, where I completed a two-week internship and effectively began my career in engineering. At the time I was still undecided on my career path, this initial experience confirmed my appetite for engineering and guided me towards the Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) program.??

The internship got my “foot in the door” and earned me the opportunity to complete a GA with Katoni, which I started in 2019.??

Although I had explored the university route, and even got as far as receiving offers, to me the GA program was the perfect opportunity to work and learn at the same time. Being in academia and the world of work simultaneously provided me with the best of both worlds, allowing the academic learning and the workplace learning to complement one another, improving my overall understanding of both aspects. However, the additional benefits do come with additional challenges.??

There are inherent challenges of the GA, for me, these were related to time management and a lack of engineering experience.??

Firstly, on paper both your employment and studies are full-time, each week that was 37.5 hours and 30 hours respectively. Katoni were very supportive, allocating me time to study within work hours and providing flexible working arrangements. This allowed me the capability to effectively manage my time, starting earlier, finishing earlier, and creating more time to study out with work hours.?

Secondly, as a young engineer, trying to find relevant work-based engineering projects to base my various university assignments on was always challenging. Due to my short time within my role, and subsequent limited experience, I had to call on the experience of my mentor(s) and/or others within Katoni. Fortunately, Katoni had a wealth of experienced engineers that were always happy to support me.??

Unexpectedly, the most significant and impactful challenge of my GA journey was not specific to the GA. Less than 6 months into my new role as an Apprentice Control & Instrumentation (C&I) Engineer, the COVID pandemic began. Katoni were very supportive throughout this period, which allowed me to continue working and learning despite the circumstances, but the negative impact on my overall development was undeniable.??

On reflection, this initial setback was the catalyst for a lot of my future development. Subconsciously I knew I was behind on my development, but I lacked the understanding of how to progress my development, and the confidence to be demanding of support from my more experienced colleagues. Fortunately, this was recognized by the CEO, who helped me address these issues and get my development back on track.?

Since this initial guidance, I have taken ownership of my own development and been more proactive about seeking out the wealth of support that is available at Katoni. Through taking advantage of these opportunities, I have been able to excel beyond expectations. Making the step from Apprentice C&I Engineer, to C&I Engineer, a smooth transition.??

Therefore, from my journey so far, my two key takeaways would firstly be that effective time management is critical to maximizing your capabilities and meeting your potential. But more importantly, it is essential to be proactive and take responsibility for your own development.??

Ultimately, my overall GA journey has been incredibly beneficial to my professional and personal development. There is no denying that a GA is an excellent way to begin a wide variety of careers. The GA program is essential for providing young people with the opportunity to work and learn simultaneously, but I feel that my own development can be more heavily attributed to the company I chose to complete my GA with, than it can to the GA program itself.?

Finally, I feel that the perfect example of Katoni’s commitment to young people is that in the coming weeks, the previous GA is set to become a mentor for Katoni’s next GA student. Providing both student AND mentor, with an excellent opportunity to develop.?