Starting out on one pathway doesn’t mean you have to continue if you want to change. For Caolam Donnelly, a change in family circumstances motivated a change in direction and a focus on career progression.
Caolam, 20 and from Belfast had completed a sports qualification after his GCSEs but decided to change direction.
He was keen to do something that would offer steady employment and get his career off to a good start, with opportunities for progression, following the birth of his daughter, Cleígha, who is now two years old.
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Caolam said: “I knew someone who had worked for On Track Technicians (OTT), and I had heard good reports about them as an employer. So I applied and successfully secured a Level 2 Rail Engineering Apprenticeship with them and am completing the qualification with South Eastern Regional College (SERC). OTT has been great in supporting me with a work life balance.”
He continued: “The tutors for the apprenticeship are great as they have years of railway engineering experience, so they are very knowledgeable. We are in SERC’s Downpatrick Campus for one whole week each month, which is a bit different from other apprenticeships where you would be in one day each week.
“I prefer being in for the full week, as we focus on a whole unit of theory from Monday to Thursday and then Friday is for catching up on anything you missed or need to go over, with additional support if you need it.”
Reflecting on his change of career path, Caolam said, “I am still into my sports and I don’t regret changing pathway. I think all students should hear more about different pathways they can take so they can make informed decisions when it comes to progression.
“I am enjoying the work - I am particularly interested in the engineering side, and I would like to specialise in that area as I progress. The work on site is hard graft and it is all about teamwork so it is important you can happily work as part of a team to get the job done.”
SERC is hosting four Information and Apprenticeships - Have a Go Sessions over two evenings during NI Apprenticeship Week, 4.30–7pm on Tuesday, 4 February (Bangor and Newtownards Campuses) and Thursday, 6 February (Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses). Visit www.serc.ac.uk for more details.
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