Chris has never looked back

Feb 1 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

CHRIS Dent finished his apprenticeship with Nissan last May and has been working at the Washington plant ever since. He is employed on the die-maintenance pressing machine, maintaining the tools that press the car panels.

The 22-year-old, from Trimdon Village in County Durham, started to study A-levels at Sedgefield Community College but left a year into the course to begin a five-year Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship with Nissan.

He said: “I’ve always been a hands-on sort of person. I started at college and decided it wasn’t for me. I found it quite hard financially, I had a part time job.

“I applied and got on to the apprenticeship and I’ve never looked back. It’s good money all the way through, I’ve got a lot of qualifications. It’s been a positive thing that I’ve chosen to do. If you’re looking for a hands-on apprenticeship where you are learning academically as well as learning a trade or a skill, then go for it. It sets you up having a skill or a trade.”

Chris earned a BTEC national diploma and HNC in manufacturing engineering, plus an NVQ Level 3 in toolmaking during his apprenticeship. He is studying for an HND in manufacturing engineering, attending college around the three-shift pattern he works at Nissan. After he decided to return to college, Nissan said it would pay half of his course fees and he is now keen to develop his career with the car company.

“It’s looking good for the future of the company at the moment with all these new jobs,” Chris said. “Hopefully I’ll be here for the long term. I enjoyed the apprenticeship and I enjoy working with Nissan.”