Suzanne Greatwood – Level 3 Engineering

Name: Suzanne Greatwood

Course Name: Level 3 Engineering

Course Type: Apprenticeship

Image Caption: NWSLC Level 3 apprenticeship student Suzanne Greatwood

Engineering apprentice Suzanne has been following in her father’s footsteps learning fabrication and welding skills as part of her role at a Coventry-based engineering company.  Family-run JBMPS Ltd was established over 25 years ago and offers specialist heavy plant servicing, and bespoke machine builds as well as fabrication and welding services. The business was started by company director Julian Malin and, over the years, has developed its own fabrication centre, and an engineering centre with a research and development section.

Suzanne, from Burbage, said “I learned from my Dad that every day in this job is different and it has always interested me. I was made to feel very welcome at JBMPS and I am really enjoying trying different challenges and learning new skills.”

Suzanne attends the college’s Nuneaton Campus every Monday and keeps on track with her studies so she can devote the rest of the week to her job. She said, “If I haven’t finished some aspect of my college work during the day, I spend the evening on it when I get home so I can leave the rest of the week clear for practical skills development.”

General manager James Malin said, “Like every other business, getting new talent into the organisation is absolutely key to our success and we strongly support apprenticeship programmes which help us to do this.

“We really wanted an apprentice who would come in, full of beans and full of energy, wanting to come and learn what we do here. Suzanne has been a very fast learner; she has been able to pick up many skills that would typically take months or even years to learn. We have set her a few projects to literally test her mettle and she has been really helpful to us all.”

Suzanne added, “Despite what some people may this career is not just for boys. I have always said that if you have an interest, you should go for it no matter what anyone says as it’s your career and engineering can offer great opportunities for both men and women.”