World-class careers with Siemens

Mar 20 2008 By The Journal

SIEMENS VAI MT has recruited more than 90 graduates and modern apprentices over the last six years – 24 of them at its Stockton site. They are jetting out all over the world on challenging, exciting and lucrative careers in the hi-tech global metals industry – designing, installing and commissioning the next generation of iron and steelmaking equipment.

Students who were worrying about A-levels and degrees six months ago suddenly find themselves in the Far East working on the design and manufacture of world-class blast furnaces and casting equipment.

Highly motivated modern apprentices and graduates are taking part in major engineering projects costing tens of millions of pounds in Taiwan, China, Brazil and the USA.

They are competing against the best of the best from other international corporations at management centres of excellence such as Cranfield University.

Siemens VAI MT's director of engineering at Stockton, Paul Balmer, said: "Graduates and modern apprentices are getting involved with much bigger projects at an earlier stage. We give them challenges that were not given to people of their age in former times.

"I think that is our success. We will push people, we will give them opportunities but we will do so in a safe manner – that means hands-on working out there in the real world, and that generally means going abroad," added Mr Balmer, who started out as an apprentice himself in 1980.

At any time Siemens VAI MT will have around 16 modern apprentices and 12 graduates within its Stockton team.

Multiply that by the company's other sites at Christchurch, Dorset; Sheffield and Scunthorpe and around 10 per cent of the 520-strong workforce will be graduates and apprentices undergoing a combination of university or college studies and work-based training.

Every year Siemens VAI MT spends "tens of thousands of pounds" putting graduates and apprentices through university and college – investing ultimately in both their future and its own.

Some make such rapid progress that they are fast-tracked into key roles. One graduate apprentice, Richard Johnson, proved to be so good that – after just 18 months of training – he was offered the position of proposals manager.

Mr Balmer said: "His potential was immediately obvious. We put him in a senior role on a major project – the £160m blast furnace for Dragon Steel, Taiwan. His element of the project was worth up to £28m."

It is the international nature of Siemens VAI MT's business that is one of the key factors in attracting new talent to the company.

Apprentices will work all over the world. Stockton-based process engineering manager Martin Smith said: "Last year that meant Brazil – this year it will be India.

"Next year it will be Taiwan and probably the year after that it will be Ukraine and other parts of the former Soviet Union."

:: For more information on careers at Siemens VAI MT go to www.siemens.com/careers, e-mail; blastfurnace.metals@siemens.com or call human resources on (01202) 331000.

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GRADUATES

Siemens VAI MT recruits graduates and will also sponsor students through university – funding their degrees, masters and potentially even their studies towards chartered engineer status.

Graduates will join Siemens VAI MT aged 21-23 (although some as late as 25) and take three-year training programmes.

Every graduate also goes on the Siemens Graduate Programme around five times in their first year, offering them the chance to capitalise on the wealth of opportunities offered by Siemens around the world.

MODERN APPRENTICES

Siemens VAI MT takes on students aged 16-18 for its four-year modern apprenticeships. They will undergo one day of lectures per week and spend the other four at work in the company, learning engineering skills at first hand.

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Case study: Graduate, Sarah Halliday

GRADUATE chemical engineer Sarah Halliday's feet never touched the ground on her first day at Siemens VAI MT – she jetted straight out to South Korea.

Sarah went straight to POSCO's Gwangyang works for a week on-site. After a brief return to Stockton, she then flew back to South Korea for a second visit two months later.

Since joining Siemens VAI MT in October 2005, Sarah has also spent time in China, commissioning two gas cleaning plants at Maanshan and Xiangtan.

Sarah has also worked at the Corus Scunthorpe plant, commissioning the gas cleaning plant, and worked for four months on the cooling water system at Arcelor Mittal's site in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.

"That was my most enjoyable experience because, as a fairly long secondment, it enabled me to build up good relationships with the site team. The longer stay also enabled me to see more of the country," she said.

Sarah chose to join Siemens VAI MT because of the travel opportunities and the warm atmosphere that she felt at the interview.

"I feel so positive about the company and my work that I have e-mailed my old lecturer at Edinburgh University and asked him to get other graduates to apply to Siemens VAI MT."

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Case study: Modern apprentice, Robert Horwood

SUCCESS story Robert Horwood, 20, is testimony to the quality of modern apprenticeships at Siemens VAI MT.

He has chosen Siemens VAI MT as a career springboard to a degree – then ultimately a masters and chartered engineer status.

Robert joined Siemens VAI MT, Stockton in September 2004 after leaving Northfield School, Billingham with 11 GCSEs.

Since then he has worked abroad four times on important blast furnace projects – twice in America and twice more in Ukraine.

After qualifying with an NVQ Level 2 in performing engineering operations and an ONC in manufacturing engineering, Robert's modern apprenticeship has taken him to Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan and Donetsk, Ukraine.

"That is probably the highlight, getting the chance to go to places that you wouldn't normally go to," said Robert.

"It's great, you are seeing real America, the real Ukraine, rather than going to tourist places."

After completing his four-year apprenticeship, Robert is looking forward to starting work on a BEng degree in mechanical engineering – fully sponsored by Siemens VAI MT.

"The sponsorship support here is great, especially for engineering. Going the apprenticeship route has been a great choice for me," said Robert.

"I wouldn't have gone this route if I couldn't go on to a degree. I'm really looking forward to completing my apprenticeship and doing a degree – then I want to go on to a masters and become chartered," he added.

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A great place to work and learn

:: Graduate Carys George, 24, (University of Sheffield, MEng in chemical engineering): "When I came for the job at Siemens VAI, I loved the atmosphere and I loved the travel side – that really attracted me. People said it would be a great place for a first job, a great place to learn. There's a real variety of work – it's technical chemical engineering so I am making good use of my degree."

:: Chemical engineering graduate Alex Smith, 22: "I was worried that when I left university that I wouldn't be able to find something right but this is exactly what I did my degree in – it's ideal. There are a lot of young people with us and also a lot of experienced people as well. They are always willing to help. Everybody helps each other out."

:: Design engineer Hurfan Pervez, 27: "Siemens VAI is a great place to work. There are good opportunities for graduates. I'm working with really good guys here. They have years of experience. They've given me a really good opportunity to gain more knowledge as I'm working. My background is in stress analysis (MSc in advanced manufacturing systems, University of Teesside). At Siemens VAI I have the opportunity to progress with that knowledge."

:: Modern apprentice Simon Ashton, 20: "A modern apprenticeship seemed to me the best way to get into engineering. You are learning while you are actually doing the job. As well as getting your qualifications, you are getting real hands-on experience. I would definitely recommend modern apprenticeships. You can't beat the experience that you get on-site – any site, but going abroad is a real bonus."