Ben Roberts

Ben joined Agemaspark, at 23, as an Apprentice Toolmaker in January 2018, he studied for an NVQ Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Doncaster College, part time via day release which means he spent 1 day a week at college and 4 days a week in the workplace.

Ben wanted a career not just a job and to gain the experience alongside the qualifications that prove you can do the job.

He is from near Selby, and after finishing school, attended Askam Bryan College to study for a Level 3 BTEC in Motorsports Engineering, full time for 2 years. Ben followed this with a year at York College gaining a Welding and Turning Level 3 BTEC.

Following is interest in cars he had previous experience working in a local garage carrying out routine service and MOT of vehicles.

Ben also did some voluntary work experience at a garage in York specialising in motor racing and worked on various circuit racing vehicles including competitors in the Fun Cup and Brit Car.

He spent about 6 months looking for an apprenticeship in engineering, lots of searching, lots of practice interviews.

Ben was attracted to a career in engineering as he likes hands on work, has an interest in cars, likes working with machines and metal. He is more mechanically minded than people orientated as he is autistic but that has not prevented him from pursuing a career he loves.

Talking of working at Agemaspark, Ben said he liked the work “As everything is one-off’s here so each job is new, I enjoy the engineering problem-solving of the role.