Workshop technicians graduate from Imperial's apprenticeship scheme

Technician Robert Sherer

Workshop technicians Giovanni Marinaro & Robert Sherer celebrated completing their apprenticeships at a special presentation by Provost James Stirling

They are the first ‘graduates’ from Imperial’s Technician Apprenticeship Scheme, which launched in 2011 to provide a pipeline of technician talent for the Faculty of Engineering and Department of Physics.

Upon completing their apprenticeships, Robert and Giovanni (pictured left and right) have now secured jobs at the College in the Departments of Physics and Civil Engineering, respectively.

Presenting the pair with certificates at a special event at 58 Prince’s Gate, Imperial’s Provost Professor James said: 

“I’d like to congratulate Giovanni and Robert and wish them the very best in their new careers at Imperial. Today is a great milestone for the College’s Technician Apprenticeship scheme, which came into being thanks to the commitment of a large and diverse number of colleagues across College.” 

Professor Stirling added: “World-class experimental research and teaching depends on our skilled workforce of technicians, and the College is committed to ensuring that we develop our own talent to support our researchers and students.” 

The technicians teams at Imperial manufacture all manner of bespoke equipment and parts for use in experiments. This can include casings for spacecraft destined for far-flung regions of the solar system; rigs to test how prosthetic limbs respond to forces; precision micrometre parts for laser experiments; and even outreach exhibits that tour science festivals and events around the country.

Various workshop technician apprenticeship schemes have run at Imperial since 1958, with the latest scheme commencing in 2011 after a hiatus of around a decade.

Apprentices study for one year at Kingston College in Surrey – where apprentices from major UK companies such as BAA, Thames Water and TfL also learn their craft – then come back to Imperial to work six-month rotation placements around the different workshops for three years.

During their time at Kingston College and the Imperial workshops, the apprentices work towards qualifications at various levels including the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ); BTEC; Higher National Certificate (HNC); and Higher National Diploma (HND).

At present there are seven apprentices currently on the scheme at Imperial working in various departmental placements – with one final year apprentice recently leaving after securing a place at university to study mathematics.

Professor Stephen Richardson, Associate Provost (Institutional Affairs), was one the driving forces behind re-establishing the scheme − which was brought to reality by Paul Brown (pictured 2nd from left), Workshop Manager for the Department of Physics; Russell Stracey (far right), RSM Workshop supervisor; and Graeme Rae, Department Operations Manager for Bioengineering, as well as the HR Division.

Robert Sherer has now taken up his new role as Laboratory Technician in the Hydrodynamics Laboratory in the Department of Civil Engineering – the largest facility of its kind in the UK where huge flumes and wave machines simulate ocean conditions for ships, oils rigs and renewable energy infrastructure. 

“The apprenticeship was incredibly varied and what was most interesting was the way it covered different scales – we could be making very small, intricate parts for ESA space missions in one placement then large rigs for civil engineering in another. In the end I preferred the big stuff!" says Robert. "My new role in the Hydrodynamics Laboratory really suits me, as my time is split between working directly in the lab helping set-up the experiments and the adjoining workshop making the actual parts and equipment.” 

Giovanni meanwhile has joined the Centre for Cold Matter in the Department of Physics, a leading laboratory devoted to developing the quantum science and technology of cold/ultra-cold atoms and molecules. 

“The three years have flown by really. My first placement was in Physics which I took to immediately so it’s nice to have finally ended up in the Department," says Giovanni. "I really enjoy working with researchers helping with the design of equipment. It can be challenging at times because you might be working on building a piece of kit for weeks, and then it doesn’t work as hoped. But that’s the nature of research and it’s exciting. As part of my HND I’m also hoping to do some simple laser experiments myself which will help me better understand and communicate with the researchers.” 

More information about Imperial’s apprenticeship schemes