A young engineer has told of how she got her foot in the door thanks to an on the job T-Level apprenticeship.
Ameka Parmar from Fulwood began at PSA at Preston Docks in September 2024.
She had recently completed a foundation course at Runshaw College and was questioning whether engineering was a career for her.
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Ameka said: “I was very nervous about stepping foot into the workplace and whether the people working there were going to take the time to explain everything to me in detail.
“In reality, I couldn’t have asked for a better placement. Everyone was welcoming and answered any questions I had with a genuine interest in helping me understand what PSA does.”
She is the fifth student to go through the doors of the engineering-design consultancy and learn the ropes on placement and get support towards their TLevel qualification which is a two-year technical study programme equivalent to three A Levels.
Ameka worked within the electrical engineering team and learned how to use the software and tools needed on projects being undertaken and got the chance to see it out there in finished buildings.
The 19-year-old said: “It gave me a chance to see the work that I had been doing in real life as opposed to a drawing. It also gave me the chance to see the way a building is used and why it’s important to incorporate that into the design.”
Ameka completed a total of 315 hours of on the job training and was given special coaching to help with presentation skills during meetings after speaking with her student mentor Oliver Jones.
Stuart Hide, TLevel teacher at Runshaw said: At Runshaw College, we pride ourselves on providing technical education that prepares learners for the real world. Through strong partnerships with industry, particularly with organisations like PSA, our students benefit from meaningful placements and real employer engagement, developing the practical skills, professional behaviours, and confidence they need to succeed in a modern working environment.”
