Hanzala Mansoor

Employer: Unilever
Job title: Mechatronics maintenance engineer apprentice
Course: Mechatronics Maintenance Technician apprenticeship

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I've always had a passion for making things. I'm the family fixer — if something breaks, everyone calls for me. When it came to choosing what to do after finishing school I wanted to go into something I enjoy, so I chose engineering.

Q. Why did an apprenticeship appeal to you? 

I was planning on doing A-levels at college, but when I looked into apprenticeships I realised that you earn while you learn and you gain experience in industry. It’s the best route to develop my skills in a work environment.

I chose the mechatronics course because I like solving problems. I’ve gone from fixing toys at home to working with the big machines at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre. We cover a mix of all types of engineering, including electric, electronic, fluid, mechanical and robotics. It means I get skills in every area, and later I can choose where I want to specialise in my career.

Q. How is your apprenticeship giving you the skills and knowledge you need for a rewarding career?

It's a really good curriculum because it’s practical work. I'm a hands-on person and I like to learn by doing, not working from a screen. In the workshop, I can see how everything works and try it myself, which gives me a better understanding.

The trainers are very supportive. We recently learnt about fluid and power. I hadn’t studied that before, so I didn’t know anything about it. I was creating a pneumatic system and it wasn’t working. My trainer didn’t fix it himself — instead he helped me go through the maintenance process until eventually I found and replaced a broken switch. Solving the problem myself really helped me understand it.

Q. What is the best part about doing an apprenticeship at the AMRC Training Centre? 

The best bit so far is the working environment. My class has people aged from 16 to 30 and we all get along well and help each other out. It’s a very supportive environment where we all work together. 

Q. What do you do in your job at Unilever?

The factory I work in is the largest supplier of deodorants in the world, producing billions of units a year. As you can imagine, these machines require a lot of maintenance. I’m shadowing an engineer and I’ll be moving around different areas of the factory, gaining experience in different aspects of engineering. The people I’ll be shadowing used to be apprentices too, so they know what it’s like and they're very supportive.

Q. What advice would you give to other people looking to do an apprenticeship?

Keep an open mind and get out of your comfort zone. I’m from Bradford and I’ve come to Sheffield for this course. I was scared to leave home for the first time, but it’s been a really good experience. I’ve met new people and gained a broader perspective of the world, a better understanding of it. If I hadn’t done this I’d be sitting in my room all day — so you have to get out there.

My family is very proud of me. I'm on the best apprenticeship course out there, and working for one of the biggest companies.