Michal is currently studying the Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship (Mechanical Pathway) whilst working with Avara Foods. He describes the programme as a major step forward in his career. Having worked in technical roles for many years, he sees this apprenticeship as his most advanced opportunity to formally develop his skills and gain recognised qualifications.
Michal is an adult learner and brings a wealth of prior experience to the programme. Before starting the course, Michal worked in several technical roles, including toolmaking and as a CNC setter and programmer. While these roles were highly skilled, they were more production-focused. Michal recognised that the engineering industry was evolving and felt it was important to adapt his career path to avoid becoming limited to a single role. This apprenticeship represented a chance to broaden his expertise and future-proof his career.
The skills Michal developed earlier in his career have proven extremely valuable on the course. He frequently draws on his toolmaking background, finding strong links between what he learned previously at work and college and the engineering knowledge he is now developing. This continuity has helped him progress confidently and apply learning directly to engineering challenges he encounters at work.
Michal finds the balance between work and college very manageable, explaining that learning in college and experience in the workplace are closely connected. Skills flow both ways, allowing him to apply what he learns immediately at work while reinforcing his understanding through lots of practice. As a result, Michal feels the workload is manageable, purposeful, and time well spent.
Looking to the future, Michal is very clear about his ambition: he wants to continue learning. He speaks highly of the tutors, noting that they frequently go beyond the core programme content to support his individual interests. This encouragement has helped Michal see a future where he can continue developing his skills, potentially progressing to higher-level qualifications such as an HNC or HND with Herefordshire College.
While progression to HNC/HND would involve discussion with his employer, Michal feels confident about his long-term prospects. He works for a large organisation with multiple engineering teams, offering many opportunities for further training, internal progression, and movement into different areas of engineering.
Michal reports significant professional and personal growth since starting the course. Personally, he highlights a major improvement in his confidence, particularly around communication. English is not Michal’s first language, and before starting the course, he had concerns about both his age and potential language barriers. However, he explains that these worries quickly disappeared. Through completing assignments and engaging in lessons, his confidence and communication skills have improved greatly, benefiting both his professional and personal life.
Michal speaks very highly of his tutors, praising their enthusiasm, approachability, and willingness to share their expertise beyond the minimum course requirements. He values being able to ask questions, explore topics in depth, and learn in a positive, collaborative environment.
When asked if he would recommend the course, Michal was very clear that he would. He believes the apprenticeship opens doors across a wide range of engineering industries and supports lifelong learning. For Michal, starting his journey at Herefordshire College has been an important foundation for future success.
Find out more about Michal’s course: HERE