At The West Group we are continuing to develop our newly formed Design, Test and Validation (DTV) Engineering department by welcoming Jack Cooper into the team on a four year apprenticeship.

Like many others, when Jack left school he automatically enrolled on a college course but quickly came to the conclusion that he would prefer working within an engineering environment and looked for an apprenticeship to fulfil his aspirations instead.

Jack’s four years will see him progress through TWG and gain various diplomas and qualifications in Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering.

The first year will be spent working in Production on key TWG products, gaining a foundational understanding in the technical aspects of all components which TWG design, build and test. Additionally, one day per week will be spent attending Havant & South Downs College (HSDC), where Jack will begin his studies with a EAL Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering.

The second year will see Jack move into The West Group’s Design, Test and Validation team as a junior engineer. Here he will complete two separate six month placements in each departmental branch; Design & Test and Mechatronics Engineering - these placements will focus on initial training in key engineering competencies.  Whilst at HSDC, Jack will complete his level 2 qualification and move on to study a Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering – Product Design and Development Technician.

The third year will see a continuation of the Level 3 studies at college, whilst Jack then completes a further two 6-month placements within the DTV Engineering department, this time completing a small scale project during each placement. Each project will cover a topic such as Test Jigs & Fixtures Design, Simplified Automated Test Rigs, or Working Limits Derivation.

Finally, the fourth year will see Jack complete his Level 3 course at HSDC and therefore his official Apprenticeship framework. At TWG, he will be given the chance to head up a major DTV Engineering project, working with stakeholders across the business to develop a new capability, for example a major automated test rig for a significant new engineering project which will facilitate all future production testing. During this time Jack will also be supported with preparation and submission of all necessary documentation to apply for EngTech professional status with the IMechE.

We are excited to see Jack’s development over the years and will embrace his contribution to the team.