Celebrating National Engineering Day 2025

Celebrating National Engineering Day 2025: Insights from Philtronics’  Network75 Degree Apprentices Will and Caleb

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the vital role of engineering apprenticeships in shaping the future of innovation. At Philtronics, our Network75 BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree apprentices, Will (in his final year) and Caleb (newly started in Year 3), embody the spirit of problem-solving and collaboration that defines this special day. Through a tailored questionnaire, we sat down with them to explore how their hands-on industry experience at Philtronics is fuelling their professional growth, fostering mentorship, and driving real-world impact.

Here’s what they had to say.

Reflecting on the Journey

Will, you’ve been with Philtronics for four years. What’s the most significant skill or lesson you’ve learned through hands-on experience, and how has it shaped your approach to engineering?

Will: “The best skills I’ve gained from Philtronics are the ability to combine my theoretical knowledge from university and see where it applies in real-world products. This has made me more methodical and confident when understanding a product’s purpose and technical specifications.”

Caleb, as a new apprentice, what excites you most about starting at Philtronics, especially with National Engineering Day’s focus on advancing technology and innovation?

Caleb: “I’m most excited to learn about advancing technology. This could be advances locally on new circuit board components or on a greater scale dealing with brand-new systems.”

Will, can you share a specific example of how your work at Philtronics has contributed to solving real-world engineering challenges?

Will: “My advancements at Philtronics have really helped my fault-finding skills. For example, I discovered a faulty transformer on a motor control circuit board. The practical skills I’ve developed allowed me to understand the component’s purpose and behaviour under normal circumstances. Combining that with my university studies helped me correct the fault and meet deadlines.”

Caleb, how do you think hands-on experience at Philtronics will benefit your professional development compared to classroom learning?

Caleb: “Compared to classroom-based learning, industry experience at Philtronics will improve my understanding of the real world while working in a real work environment. Classroom learning is mostly solitary, but at Philtronics, I work with colleagues, which improves my teamwork skills and furthers my professional development.”

The Power of Mentorship

Mentorship is a cornerstone of success at Philtronics, and Will’s four years of experience make him an invaluable guide for Caleb.

Will, how do you plan to share your knowledge with Caleb to help him succeed?

Will: “I plan to share my knowledge through demonstrations and over-the-shoulder testing or problem-solving. A specific example is teaching Caleb about our Radio Frequency generators. These are unique to specific units and require careful introduction due to their high output possibilities and individual setups.”

Caleb, how do you think learning from Will’s experience will help you progress faster?

Caleb: “Will’s four years of experience will help me in many areas. He can point out quirks and caveats in testing that I might struggle to pick up on my own. This will help me fill in gaps quickly and boost my progress.”

Caleb, what specific skills do you hope to gain from working with Will?

Caleb: “I’d like to expand my fault-finding skills on electrical systems and learn to interpret engineering test schedules and diagrams effectively. Also, Will can help me navigate company software, which is something I’m eager to master.”

Will, why do you think mentorship is important in engineering?

Will: “Mentorship is crucial for introducing people to new technical environments. Working with colleagues at Philtronics has benefited me majorly. They’ve guided me on safety, functionality, and practical skills that you can’t learn in a classroom. Mentorship allows you to ask questions and develop understanding in an appropriate timeframe.”

Caleb, what’s a question you’d like to ask Will about his journey at Philtronics?

Caleb: “What was something that took you the longest to be proficient in, and how did you achieve it?”

Celebrating National Engineering Day

National Engineering Day celebrates engineers as problem-solvers and innovators, and both Will and Caleb are already contributing to this vision at Philtronics.

How do you see your work at Philtronics aligning with this vision?

Will: “My work at Philtronics engages with problem-solving daily. In the testing department, systems sometimes don’t meet test standards, so I use problem-solving skills, equipment, and diagrams to identify and amend issues. This contributes to innovation by making processes more efficient or working with cutting-edge systems.”

Caleb: “Philtronics is aiding the continuous development of modern engineering systems. Even though we focus on lower-level sub-assemblies, these are vital for advancing consumer-level technologies. My work involves problem-solving and occasionally working with innovative systems, letting me play a role as an innovator.”

Why is industry experience critical for young engineers, and how does your apprenticeship at Philtronics embody the spirit of National Engineering Day?

Will: “Industry experience helps young engineers apply theoretical work to physical ideas. Philtronics embodies this by giving apprentices opportunities across multiple areas of the business, providing a great introduction to the industry.”

Caleb: “Industry experience is critical because you face real-world issues that you can’t fully grasp in classes. Philtronics gives me a chance to engage with industrial engineering, ensuring I don’t fall behind my peers.”

If you could showcase one aspect of your apprenticeship to inspire others on National Engineering Day, what would it be?

Will: “I’d showcase the range of equipment and systems we work with, from low-level voltage at the IC level to AC UK mains voltages and high-frequency operations. It highlights the variety of procedures and aspects of electrical engineering.”

Caleb: “It would be the range of systems I get to work with, from KLA to local companies. It encompasses many aspects of engineering and shows how diverse the apprenticeship is.”

Looking Ahead

As Will nears the end of his apprenticeship and Caleb embarks on his journey, both have clear goals and a vision for their future at Philtronics.

Will, how will you use your experience to inspire the next generation of apprentices?

Will: “I plan to provide the next generation with all the knowledge I’ve gathered over the last five years. I aim to show how deeply my understanding has developed and inspire them to apply what they’ve learned in their studies.”

Caleb, what are your goals for your first year, and how will you leverage Will’s experience?

Caleb: “My goal is to become as knowledgeable and capable as possible in my role. I’ll leverage Will’s experience by asking frequent questions and taking notes on his advice.”

Will, what are your professional goals for the next year?

Will: “My aim is to finalize my degree and continue progressing my knowledge and skills as an engineer. Philtronics has equipped me with hands-on experience and a collaborative environment to reinforce my skillset.”

Caleb, how do you envision your role evolving as you gain more experience?

Caleb: “I envision becoming much more capable and maybe even being in Will’s position one day, helping someone newer than me.”

Closing Thoughts

Will and Caleb’s reflections capture the essence of National Engineering Day: innovation, collaboration, and the power of hands-on experience. At Philtronics, our apprenticeship program not only equips young engineers and technicians with technical skills but also fosters a culture of mentorship and growth, evidenced by our recent shortlisting for two separate "Developing Future Talent" awards: Made in Wales and Make UK. Our unwavering commitment to facilitating apprenticeships at both degree and BTEC levels underscores our dedication to providing opportunities for learners eager to gain real industry and hands-on experience as part of their professional development. As Will prepares to take the next step in his career and Caleb begins his journey with us, their shared commitment to problem-solving and learning from each other reflects the bright future of engineering. Here’s to celebrating their contributions, our award-recognised talent pipeline, and the countless ways engineers shape the world!

In line with Engineering Day, we are excited to launch our new apprentice reward scheme, designed to challenge, recognise, and reward the outstanding achievements of our 8 apprentices throughout the upcoming academic year. This initiative will inspire innovation, foster skill development, and celebrate the dedication of our emerging engineering talent.

Want to learn more about the Network75 degree apprenticeships at Philtronics? Visit the University of South Wales BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering course and stay tuned for more stories from our team! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our apprenticeship pathways including our partnership with Aspire Shared Apprenticeship Programme, Tydfil Training and Merthyr Tydfil College.