Craft and keyboard: The trainees mastering tech and age-old skills
Summary
Ollie Priestley is doing a special apprenticeship to restore modern classic cars using both old skills and new technologies like 3D printing and computer design. This kind of training mixes practical work like welding with digital skills to prepare apprentices for today's tech-influenced engineering jobs.Key Facts
- Ollie Priestley is training as a heritage vehicle technician at Tolman, a specialist car restoration business.
- He uses new technology such as computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing alongside traditional mechanical skills.
- The apprenticeship lasts three years and is equivalent to three A-levels (level three).
- The Heritage Skills Academy introduced this apprenticeship in 2018 to combine digital and practical skills.
- Apprenticeships are moving towards higher levels of education, with fewer people starting on basic (level two) apprenticeships.
- Some worry apprentices might focus too much on digital tools and not enough on hands-on trade skills.
- Experts say combining digital and trade skills creates more skilled workers able to diagnose problems and innovate.
- Modern engineering apprenticeships now often include programming, robotics, and production monitoring technologies.
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