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ST TRU
Gatsby Benchmarks
NATASHA PITTS,
ELECTRICAL DESIGN
ENGINEER
Despite planning to go to university, a summer job
in engineering encouraged Natasha Pitts to take a
vocational direction. After A levels, she joined Dale
Power Solutions, completing her advanced
apprenticeship in just 26 months (normally four
years), a higher apprenticeship and a first-class BEng
(Hons). She started a Master’s in September 2018.
I knew I wanted a science-based career, but not what
that looked like, so I went to sixth form college to do
A Levels in subjects I enjoyed at GCSE. The careers
advice was geared around university; however, I
decided I wanted a more vocational, work-based
learning route, so started looking into apprenticeships
as there was no help available to do that. My summer
job – which involved taking apart and cleaning ice
cream machines – sparked my engineering interest.
At Dale Power, I completed a two-year rotational
advanced apprenticeship, learning how to panel wire
equipment, test, carry out quotations, commercial and
contracts aspects and electrical design of equipment.
I found I was suited to a quotations/commercial and
contracts role or an electrical design engineer role.
This was followed by a higher apprenticeship as an
electrical design engineer for three years and on
completion of an NVQ4 and foundation degree in
electrical and electronic engineering, I was offered
the opportunity to study for a full degree. I achieved
a first-class BEng (Hons) in electrical and electronic
engineering on a part-time basis, going to the
University of Hull one day a week.
I’ve been with Dale Power for eight years, designing
a range of DC charger systems and UPS. I’ve learned
electrical and mechanical skills and how to
communicate in a professional manner. The
apprenticeship has allowed me to become a valued
member of the engineering team, and I’m regularly
challenged to solve different engineering
design problems.
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“Students tell us that careers
advice from schools is either
non-existent or ‘go to university’”
LEVELS OF APPRENTICESHIP
NAME
LEVEL
EQUIVALENT EDUCATIONAL LEVEL
Intermediate 2 GCSE
Advanced 3 A level
Higher 4,5,6 & 7 Foundation degree and above
Degree 6 & 7 Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
What skills do young
people need to work at
Dale Power Solutions?
I’m not looking for a set number of
GCSEs or A levels at certain grades.
Exam results only tell me a small
part about a person.
I want to find out about their
employability – their integrity,
interpersonal skills, passion for
excellence, energy and self-
motivation, potential growth,
problem solving, teamwork,
flexibility and commitment.
Technology and engineering is
changing all the time and faster
than ever before. In some ways, the
apprentices we recruit today are
more tech savvy than some of our
existing employees.
How could careers
guidance be improved?
Students tell us that careers advice
from schools is either non-existent
or “go to university”. I have
apprentices (some with 12 A*
grades at GCSE) who were only
advised to go to university, no
alternatives were discussed.
Advice should be balanced and
include apprenticeships, other
academic study and getting a job,
with options linked to career paths
so students can select the best
route for them.
Schools and businesses both
want students to thrive using their
individual talents. Businesses must
take an interest and try and make
a difference.
Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to learn industry-
based skills while gaining recognised qualifications.
They allow you to get ahead of your peers
who have gone to university by giving
ABOUT DALE POWER SOLUTIONS
you industry experience at the same
Dale Power Solutions brings together technology and engineering to create
time as earning and learning. I’ve enjoyed
innovative solutions, protecting critical power supplies for customers
my training, and there are few people
worldwide through its standby power systems. It is a Top 100 UK
who have been able to save up and buy
Apprenticeship
Employer, Princess Royal Training Award winner, winner of
a car and a house by the age of 25.
the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2018: Promoting Opportunity, and a
National Apprenticeship Service Roll of Honour Company.
dalepowersolutions.com/careers
56 // STEM