The thread on modern apprenticships made me wonder how many here did an apprentiship.
I'll start. I did a four year apprenticeship as an electronics technician starting in 1976. I did it with a company called TI-Crypton who made engine analysis equipment. It actually finished up taking me five years to complete the four years as they sent me to do a degree on a thin sandwich course that was six months at college and six months in the factory. First year was at Bridgwater college full time doing machining, welding, fabrication, electrical wiring plus a day a week doing an ONC in electrical and electronic engineering. The next two years were spent six months at a time in each department of the company, so time in the metal shop using all the equipment there, paint shop, electronic PCB assembly, equipment assembly and test. I even spent time in sales and accounting. The final year (spread over two years) was in the R&D department working on future products.
It was the best decision I ever made going the apprenticeship route rather than academia.
I'll start. I did a four year apprenticeship as an electronics technician starting in 1976. I did it with a company called TI-Crypton who made engine analysis equipment. It actually finished up taking me five years to complete the four years as they sent me to do a degree on a thin sandwich course that was six months at college and six months in the factory. First year was at Bridgwater college full time doing machining, welding, fabrication, electrical wiring plus a day a week doing an ONC in electrical and electronic engineering. The next two years were spent six months at a time in each department of the company, so time in the metal shop using all the equipment there, paint shop, electronic PCB assembly, equipment assembly and test. I even spent time in sales and accounting. The final year (spread over two years) was in the R&D department working on future products.
It was the best decision I ever made going the apprenticeship route rather than academia.