My Apprenticeship Journey at The Bristol Port Company
Hi, I’m Nick, and I am a Maintenance Controller in the Operational Engineering Department at The Bristol Port Company.
I joined The Bristol Port Company in 2015 as a Mechanical Engineer. I was employed primarily as a crane engineer but also maintained and repaired other kit such as conveyors, blenders and roller/hammer mills. After years of working as a production engineer on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) production lines this was my first foray into heavy engineering, but I relished the new challenge.
After approximately 5 years as an engineer, I applied for the role of Maintenance Controller and was successful! I have now been in this role for over five years. My responsibilities now include managing a team of engineers, planning maintenance, sourcing spares, liaising with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) suppliers, issuing permits-to-work and writing risk assessments and method statements.
This was my first experience as a manager, so the head of Operational Engineering (my boss) told me about the ILM Leadership and Management apprenticeship, then encouraged me to do it, as he felt it would be beneficial to me in my new role as a manager.
The apprenticeship has significantly helped me in the workplace.
I am now better equipped to deal with all the trials and tribulations that are thrown at you as a manager. During my apprenticeship I learnt many new methods and was shown proven models to use in my everyday life at work to overcome challenges that arose. These tools help me manage people, my time and my tasks more efficiently and enable me to be more emotionally intelligent when dealing with personnel issues.
Weston College provided robust support throughout the apprenticeship. Before starting, they guided me through the enrolment process and outlined what to expect. During the programme, I had access to a dedicated mentor, regular check-ins, and resources tailored to my role. After completing the apprenticeship, they continued to offer workshops and networking opportunities to ensure I stayed up to date with best practices.
My time at Bristol Port has brought unexpected opportunities, such as being invited to participate in high-level strategic planning sessions. Additionally, I’ve had the chance to mentor newer engineers and apprentices.
My future aspirations are to continue learning, and to shadow the Head of Operational Engineering to enable me to effectively stand in for him in his absence. I also hope to play a more significant role in shaping long-term maintenance strategies and mentoring young engineers and apprentices at Bristol Port.
