About Stephen…
Stephen Fitchett, from Widnes, was a fabricator welder for 14 years before he joined the IACS team as an apprentice on the ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ apprenticeship.
Stephen recognized that this apprenticeship could be the step he needed to propel his career in an industry that he knew well.
“I have been a welder for 14 years but within the role I held, my career progression was limited. So, I started to look for an opportunity within my industry that would support my ambitions both now and in the future."
“When I met the IACS team and found out about the role it met my brief perfectly and I firmly set my sight on becoming a senior pipeline inspector.”
Having been part of an apprenticeship previously, Stephen understood the benefits of this route to upskilling himself and obtaining the qualifications that he would need.
“The help that you receive on an apprentice is outstanding, I found this out when I completed my first apprentice. During the assessment day, when I met the IACS team and understood more about the curriculum being delivered by Hopwood Hall College, I knew that the level of support would be similar. I am now a few months in, and I was right! The guidance and one-on-one support are excellent.”
Stephen started his apprenticeship in September 2023, during this time he has combined classroom tuition with obtaining onsite experience.
He explains:
“It’s certainly been intense, and in some ways challenging, but this has all been outweighed by how rewarding this apprenticeship is.”
