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WorkWise Apprenticeships

WorkWise Apprenticeships

By: Paul Marsh
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Finding the right career path can be challenging for young people. Questions about qualifications, training opportunities, apprenticeships and how to get a foot on the career ladder can often feel overwhelming.


To help answer those questions, Express FM has partnered with Mountjoy and City of Portsmouth College to launch Workwise - a podcast which helps young people, students, apprentices and job seekers explore careers, develop workplace skills and hear real stories from professionals across a wide range of industries .

© 2026 WorkWise Apprenticeships Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 5: Building a Career with Portsmouth City Council Apprentice Alex Dyer

    WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 5: Building a Career with Portsmouth City Council Apprentice Alex Dyer
    28 Oct 2026

    If you have a question about an apprenticeship, click here

    What if you could earn a degree, gain valuable experience and manage real projects, all while building your future career?

    In Episode 5 of Season 2 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, student interviewer Oscar talks to Alex Dyer, a Degree Apprentice Building Surveyor with Portsmouth City Council.

    Alex is working towards becoming a Chartered Building Surveyor, combining university studies with practical experience across a variety of council projects.

    From the classroom to real responsibility

    Alex began his degree apprenticeship in April 2022, joining Portsmouth City Council's Capital Projects Service.

    Since then, he's gained experience across several departments, beginning in the Repairs Team, where his responsibilities included energy performance surveys, fire risk assessments and asbestos reinspections.

    He then moved into Asset Management, carrying out condition surveys across the council's housing portfolio and helping inform decisions about future maintenance and investment.

    These placements gave Alex an understanding of how buildings are maintained, managed and improved, while developing the technical skills needed for a career in building surveying.

    Taking charge of his own projects

    In April 2025, Alex progressed into the Building Projects team, taking on responsibility for managing his own projects.

    His work now includes everything from initial inspections and designs to tendering and overseeing contracts.

    And the projects themselves are incredibly varied.

    From refurbishing empty properties and improving fire safety in high-rise buildings to making buildings more energy efficient, Alex is gaining hands-on experience with work that directly benefits local communities.

    It's a great example of how an apprenticeship can offer genuine responsibility and the opportunity to make a difference while you're still learning.

    Working towards becoming a Chartered Surveyor

    Alongside his role at Portsmouth City Council, Alex attends the University of Portsmouth one day a week, studying towards a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying.

    He's due to graduate in summer 2027, before working towards his Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professional assessment later that year.

    His ultimate goal is to become a fully qualified Chartered Building Surveyor, opening the door to further opportunities and responsibilities within the profession.

    And importantly, he's gaining years of practical experience alongside his academic qualifications.

    Discovering the opportunities apprenticeships can offer

    Alex's journey demonstrates that apprenticeships aren't limited to traditional trades.

    From surveying buildings and planning improvements to managing budgets and overseeing construction projects, building surveying brings together technical knowledge, problem-solving and project management.

    For anyone interested in construction, property or engineering, it's a career path worth exploring.

    And with Alex already taking responsibility for projects across Portsmouth, his experience shows just how much you can achieve while completing a degree apprenticeship.

    You don't have to wait until you've graduated to start building your career.

    Listen to Episode 5

    Season 2 of WorkWise continues to put apprentices in the spotlight, with students from the City of Portsmouth College interviewing apprentices from Portsmouth City Council, Airbus and Comserv.

    Through these conversations, we're discovering the different routes into employment, the skills apprentices develop and the opportunities available to young people considering their next steps.

    🎧 Listen at www.expressfm.com/workwise or wherever you get your podcasts.


    If you have any questions about the podcast, apprenticeships or Mountjoy please send us a message.

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    11 min
  • WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 4: Reaching for the Stars with Airbus Apprentice Owen Price

    WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 4: Reaching for the Stars with Airbus Apprentice Owen Price
    21 Oct 2026
    If you have a question about an apprenticeship, click hereCould an apprenticeship really lead to a career working in the space industry?In Episode 4 of Season 2 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, we're heading into the world of aerospace engineering as student interviewer Darcy talks to Owen Price, a Degree Apprentice with Airbus Defence and Space.Owen is currently in the second year of his apprenticeship, combining university studies with practical experience at one of the world's major aerospace companies.It's a fascinating example of how apprenticeships can open doors to careers that young people might never have considered, including opportunities in science, technology and space exploration.Combining university with real-world experienceFor many young people, deciding between university and an apprenticeship can feel like choosing between two very different paths.But Owen's experience demonstrates that it doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other.As part of his apprenticeship with Airbus Defence and Space, Owen is studying towards a degree in Space Systems Engineering at the University of Portsmouth.He attends university every Monday and one Tuesday each month, spending the rest of his working time developing his skills and gaining experience within Airbus.This approach allows him to combine academic learning with practical workplace experience, applying knowledge from his degree to the engineering environment.It's one of the biggest advantages of a degree apprenticeship: the opportunity to work towards a university qualification while building experience in the industry you're hoping to develop a career in.What does a Manufacturing and Process Engineer actually do?Owen's main role at Airbus is as a Manufacturing and Process Engineer, a position that involves understanding how engineering processes work and how products are manufactured.But his apprenticeship isn't limited to one department or set of responsibilities.Owen has also had the opportunity to complete placements across different parts of the business, including spending around ten months working as an operator.These experiences give him the chance to see how different teams work together and develop a wider understanding of the manufacturing process.For someone starting out in engineering, experiencing different roles can be incredibly valuable, helping them discover their strengths, develop new skills and understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture.A career that's looking towards the futureAway from his apprenticeship, Owen has a keen interest in space, technology and the big questions surrounding the future.He enjoys exploring subjects where the answers aren't always clear, from how technology might develop over the coming decades to what we might discover about the universe.It's an interest that fits naturally with a career in an industry where innovation and technological development are constantly creating new possibilities.For young people interested in science, engineering or technology, Owen's journey highlights the variety of opportunities available through apprenticeships.You don't necessarily have to follow a traditional university route to begin working towards a career in a highly technical industry.Learning beyond the classroomOne of the recurring themes throughout WorkWise has been the value of gaining experience by actually doing the job.Owen's degree apprenticeship provides an interesting perspective on that idea.He's not simply studying engineering at university and waiting until graduation to enter the workplace. He's already gaining experience within the industry, learning from colleagues and seeing how the knowledge he's developing is applied in practice.And through placements in different areas of Airbus, he's also discovering how the different parts of a large engineering organisation work together.It's a combination of education, training and experience that can help build a strong foundation for a future career.The students are back for Season 2The first three episodes of Season 2 featured conversations with Mountjoy managers, exploring what employers look for when recruiting apprentices and how they support young people as they develop their careers.Now, we're handing the microphones back to our student interviewers.Over the coming episodes, they'll be meeting nine new apprentices from Airbus, Comserv and Portsmouth City Council, discovering how they found their opportunities, what their jobs involve and what advice they'd give to someone considering a similar route.And we're starting with a career that might seem a world away from a traditional apprenticeship.From studying Space Systems Engineering at the University of Portsmouth to gaining practical experience at Airbus Defence and Space, Owen's journey demonstrates just how varied modern apprenticeships can be.An apprenticeship doesn't have to mean choosing between university and the workplace. Sometimes, you can experience both....
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    11 min
  • WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 3: From Electrician to Electrical Manager with Paul Whitter

    WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 3: From Electrician to Electrical Manager with Paul Whitter
    14 Oct 2026
    If you have a question about an apprenticeship, click hereWhere could an apprenticeship take you? For someone starting out in a trade, the opportunities might go much further than they first imagine.In Episode 3 of Season 2 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, Jacob talks to Paul Whitter, Electrical Manager at Mountjoy, about his 33-year career with the company, the responsibilities that come with managing an electrical team and what he looks for when recruiting and developing the next generation of electricians.It's the final episode in our opening series of conversations with Mountjoy managers, exploring what employers expect from apprentices and how young people can give themselves the best possible start in their careers.From electrician to Electrical ManagerPaul joined Mountjoy 33 years ago as an electrician, working his way through the business, gaining experience and additional qualifications before progressing to his current role as Electrical Manager.His career is a great example of how learning a trade can be the beginning of a much longer journey.While becoming a qualified electrician is an achievement in itself, Paul's progression demonstrates the opportunities that can become available through experience, further training and taking on additional responsibilities.Today, his role involves overseeing electrical work across Mountjoy, ensuring projects are completed safely, to the required standards, on time and within budget.More than just working with electricsAs Electrical Manager, Paul has a wide range of responsibilities.These include maintaining Mountjoy's NICEIC Approved Contractor accreditation, ensuring electrical work meets the required regulations and safety standards, and overseeing compliance for planned preventative maintenance and the company's door entry team.He is also responsible for ensuring projects are delivered successfully, improvements are introduced and staff receive the training they need to carry out their work safely and effectively.It's a reminder that a career in a trade can develop into much more than the practical work someone initially trains to do.Management, planning, problem-solving, communication and leadership can all become important parts of someone's career as they progress.What does Mountjoy look for in an apprentice electrician?Recruitment and the development of apprentices are important parts of Paul's role.Mountjoy invests in bringing new people into the electrical trade, providing training and support throughout their apprenticeships to help them gain the knowledge, experience and qualifications needed to build successful careers.For anyone considering an electrical apprenticeship, understanding what an employer expects can be incredibly useful.Jacob's conversation with Paul explores the employer's perspective, including the importance of recruiting the right people, developing their skills and ensuring apprentices receive the support they need to progress.An apprentice isn't expected to arrive knowing everything about the job. The purpose of an apprenticeship is to learn, gain practical experience and develop the skills required to become qualified.But being willing to learn, taking training seriously and understanding the importance of working safely are all essential parts of developing a career in the electrical industry.Building a career, not just gaining a qualificationOne of the biggest advantages of an apprenticeship is the opportunity to combine learning with genuine workplace experience.For aspiring electricians, that means developing technical knowledge while working alongside experienced professionals and seeing how the skills they're learning are used in real situations.And the opportunities don't necessarily end when the apprenticeship finishes.Paul's own career demonstrates how experience and further qualifications can lead to greater responsibility, specialist knowledge and management opportunities.An apprenticeship can be the first step into a trade, but it doesn't have to be the final step in someone's career development.Hearing from both sides of the apprenticeship journeyThroughout the opening three episodes of Season 2, WorkWise has been exploring apprenticeships from an employer's perspective.We began with Mountjoy Director and Owner Dan Carlin, who discussed the importance of attitude, reliability and a willingness to learn.We then heard from Charlotte Seymour, HR Talent Business Partner, about recruiting apprentices, helping them settle into the workplace and providing ongoing support as they develop.Now, Paul Whitter brings that opening series to a close by sharing the perspective of someone who has spent more than three decades developing his own career in the electrical industry and helping others build theirs.And next, it's time to hear from the apprentices themselves.Our student interviewers will return for nine new conversations with apprentices from Comserv, Airbus and Portsmouth City Council, discovering how they ...
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    9 min
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