About Rico…
While admiration and respect for the role of a Pipeline Inspector led Rico Lothian to consider a new career, it was the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals that drew Rico to the ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ (PIPHU) apprenticeship.
As a welding assistant, Rico had benefitted from a close-up of the industry before becoming an apprentice. Importantly he had also experienced, first-hand, the professionalism and reputation of the IACS team – the business behind PIPHU – one of the UK’s most pioneering apprenticeship programmes.
Rico explains:
“As a welding assistant I have worked side by side with pipeline inspectors. This made me really appreciate the hard work, responsibility and management that goes into the job every day.
“It also made me value the industry as a whole and importantly, respect IACS’ level of experience.
“This is one of the reasons why I am really looking forward to learning from the inspectors. They are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. Their enthusiasm makes learning engaging and being under their guidance and support has really motivated me to push myself further to become a fully qualified pipeline inspector.”
About the apprenticeship…
The ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ (PIPHU) apprenticeship provides a mixture of classroom-based learning at Hopwood Hall College and University Centre with practical on-site experience, which takes place over 16 months.
While Rico knew that this opportunity to learn and gain experience was the best way for him to benefit from the huge amount of possibilities in the pipeline industry, he did experience initial concerns.
Rico adds:
“I knew I would find it tough being away from home and away from my family, but I recognise that the experience and skills I’m gaining while on this apprenticeship will open up so many opportunities for me in the future.”
Salary and achievements…
Each apprentice starts on a competitive salary of £28,000 per year, with opportunities to achieve performance-related incentives as they gain the individual certificates awarded by The Welding Institute (TWI). Successful apprentices are guaranteed a permanent role at IACS Ltd upon completion of the PIPHU apprenticeship.
Rico concludes:
“While gaining the certifications to be fully qualified is essential, I am here to prove that determination and hard work can lead to new and exciting career opportunities. As one of the older students in my cohort, I felt that not being in education for such a long time was going to really test my abilities but in reality, it’s never too late to try something new.
“I want to be a testament to the fact that with the right support and dedication, you can achieve anything.”