Founded in 1965, Summit Engineering has long been a cornerstone of the local aerospace and defence industry. Working with leading organisations such as Collins and Rolls Royce, the company takes pride in blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.
Last year, Summit Engineering welcomed two T-Level students from Solihull College & University Centre for an initial nine-week work placement, a partnership that proved so successful it was extended by a further six weeks after both students impressed the team with their skills and attitude.
One of those students, Engineering student Peter McCreadie, has since progressed to a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Mechatronics. Splitting his time between work and study, Peter now has the chance to explore every aspect of the business. From hands-on engineering to sales and finance, his apprenticeship is giving him a well-rounded understanding of how each department contributes to the success of the company.
General Manager, Adam Hartely, is a staunch believer in providing training opportunities to current staff and the next generation from the community. He commented: “The apprenticeship works for everyone, it’s allowing us to do something different and introduce new people into an aging workforce. It’s a reciprocal process whereby we’re providing on the job training to Peter, and he’s bringing back new methods and techniques learnt at College.”
“We like to give our people opportunities through training and development. We offer upward mobility, either within their current team, or into a different team. We want to get them where they want to be.”
Peter comments: “I enjoy the working environment and work well with the people around me. Not only am I learning the practical side of the job, but I have improved my communication skills by interacting with different people every day.”
Both Peter and Adam describe Peter as ‘curious’, a great trait to have when learning through an apprenticeship, “he’s always asking questions.” Adam noted. They also both noted the positive level of support they have received from the College, from initial advice and guidance, to onboarding and on programme support.
For more information on how the College can support your organisation, please speak with the experienced Employer Services team on 0121 678 7181 or email employerservices@solihull.ac.uk
