Ayr Graduation 2019: Excellence in Aircraft Engineering Award

I’ve managed to get an apprenticeship with GE Caledonian in Prestwick which I started in August and I can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true; it’s my dream job.

                                                                        Kieran Park, HNC Aircraft Engineering

I realised I wanted to get into engineering after I took up a Skills for Work Engineering course at Ayrshire College while I was still at school.

I was always interested in learning about the way things work and why things are designed the way they are and, although I didn’t know at the time, had a fondness for aircraft. I took up Aircraft Engineering because I knew that the Ayr Campus has a whole department and building dedicated to Aeronautical.

Starting at NC level involved a good deal of hand work and skill development such as composites and metalwork, while HNC focused more toward understanding and acted more as a transition to degree level, leaning more toward physics and theories.

Other than the practical skills the course has provided, I’ve found that I’m much more confident, my timekeeping is good and I really enjoy studying.

I managed to gain work experience at British Airways Maintenance during my HNC which I was really happy about. I was able to do plenty of live and meaningful maintenance work. It confirmed to myself that this is what I want to do. It was great to be able to share the experience and knowledge to my friends, class and lecturers.

Winning this award shows that my work has been acknowledged which will be beneficial for my CV. It’s definitely an ego boost and I’m very appreciative of it.

I have a lot of respect for the lecturers at the College. Ayrshire College is a very nurturing place to learn and is always improving.

I’ve managed to get an apprenticeship with GE Caledonian in Prestwick which I started in August and I can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true; it’s my dream job. I’m thoroughly enjoying every day, so it’s as if I’m not working at all!