Carter Manufacturing helps to inspire the next generation of engineers

Jake attended Abingdon and Witney College studying for a 'Level 2 Engineering Diploma' one day a week, along with his hands-on, practical experience 4 days a week at Carter. He recently completed his 2 year apprenticeship at Carter.

"From a young age I actually wanted to be a builder, following in the footsteps of my father, although he always used to tell me, it's not a great job and I think you could be doing something better," said Jake.

Another family influencer was Jake's grandfather who told Jake about engineering and told him to look it up and find out more about what engineers actually do. "Ever since then engineering is all I wanted to do," he said.

No other family members are involved in engineering although Jake added that a few of his friends are engineer apprentices at other companies.

"The sectors I'm most interested in are machining, assembly and inspection, mainly because I really enjoy using the CMM machine," said Jake.

"As an Apprentice Engineer I fulfilled quite a few things - for example bearing and tooling assembly, machine operating, a little bit of SolidWorks/CAD, MD coating, programming and operating a riveting machine. Also, programming and operating the CMM machine, cryogenic testing bearings using Liquid Nitrogen and using the RIC rig to find out the radial internal clearance of bearings. In addition, fire warden and health and safety training."

Most importantly, Jake's experience included a first-hand insight into Carter's acknowledged specialist expertise as a leading precision bearing and tooling supplier too many of the UK's leading high-technology companies. This meant he needed to be involved in assembling hybrid bearings for cryogenic applications, light weight slewing bearings for the defence sector, titanium bearings for highly competitive yacht racing and aluminium thrust bearings for the medical sector.

Sharing his positive experience as an apprentice at Carter, Jake said: "I feel like it's been a great success story because I joined the company knowing next to nothing and in the last two years I have learnt so much. I now know how to do things I never imagined I would know.

"Hopefully, I can go onto bigger and better things and keep building myself up, step-by-step and achieve great things in engineering."