Case Study - Oliver Choppen: Science manufacturing and technician apprentice, Solenis
23 June 2021

Case Study - Oliver Choppen: Science manufacturing and technician apprentice, Solenis

Oliver’s interest in the chemical industry began while studying A level chemistry and after researching his career options, found that chemical manufacturing interested him the most.

“I took a week’s work experience at Solenis in summer 2018 and was amazed by all the different processes and plants that were on the site, plus the team are incredibly friendly,” Oliver said. “After applying for the apprenticeship programme in 2019, I was really pleased to be accepted as a science manufacturing and technician apprentice.”

Oliver is approaching the end of his second year as an apprenticeship and has experienced dramatic changes in his role and responsibility in that time. “Over the years my role has changed from helping outside with common tasks to having responsibility for starting up, running and even shutting down some of the plants in my department,” he explained.

“After my apprenticeship finishes next year I would like to stay on at Solenis and reach a higher level as an operator or moving into areas such as shift manager.”

He added: “As a student who mainly considered university, I would highly recommend an apprenticeship as it allows a student to earn while they learn and it offers greater job security at the end of the process - unlike university students who will be competing with thousands of other candidates once they’ve completed their degree.”

Bradford Manufacturing Weeks begins on Monday 4th October and runs until Friday 15th October. Led by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce with primary sponsorship from Barclays and additional sponsorship from Naylor Wintersgill, E3 Recruitment, LCF Law and Bradford Council, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has created more than 12,000 manufacturing experiences for the district’s 14-18 year-old students since its launch in 2018.

For more details of how your school or your manufacturing business can get involved, please contact Laura Dooher at the Opportunity Centre on Laura.dooher@theopportunitycentre.com

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