Compressed Air and Vacuum Technician

Ben's job title is Apprentice Vacuum Processing Technician at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

What I do

I work in the vacuum laboratory. We get different parts ready so they can be used under vacuum in a research system. We put them through our cleaning process which is designed to remove all gases and molecules from their surfaces so that they work in a vacuum.

We do leak testing where we test how well the parts seal and then use helium and a leak detector to check if there are any leaks around the seals or joints. We also test for out-gasing, to see how many gases they give off inside the system and how clean they are.

Hear more about Ben's role by watching the video below...

How I became a technician

I did triple science, Spanish and P.E. at GCSE. I didn’t go on to A-levels. I knew someone that worked at STFC who told me about the job and how interesting it was, so I applied for this apprenticeship and was successful. It is a two-year apprenticeship and at the end of it I’ll get a Level 3 BTEC in Applied Science. From there, I could get offered a full-time job if my company is happy with my work and I can go on to do a Higher National Certificate (HNC).

I find it really useful to learn how to apply a skill to something tangible rather than classroom study. I now spend one day a week at college. I’ve become more confident as a person since I’ve started working.

A typical day in my
working life

I get in around 8.30 am and check emails. At 9.30 am we have a group meeting where we prioritise the list of the jobs we need to do, before we make a start on what we’ve been allocated. The whole day is outlined in this meeting.

Sometimes there may be a huge job that needs doing, but often it is a case of doing several jobs at once – you can leave the vacuum system to work in the background while you go off and do something else. Most things run automatically in our lab.

We talk to each other and make notes on our job card system so you can see who has done what and for how long. Information is fed back to computers, and we monitor on there. I usually leave around the same time at the end of the day. No day is the same and there is always something different to do.

I am working alongside people with a lot more experience; one of my colleagues has been there for over 40 years so he has so much knowledge.

A little more about
my everyday role

What I love most about my job

The parts that come in for testing will get used on various systems, perhaps even CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland. All sorts of things come in from different sources and can be going anywhere. Even though I play a small part, it’s still exciting to feel part of major research that can help humankind.

The best bits about working in a team

I work in a team of five, plus senior management. They are all great people, and we all get on really well. It makes the job enjoyable. You can bounce ideas off each other and it helps to problem solve. I am working alongside people with a lot more experience; one of my colleagues has been there for over 40 years so he has so much knowledge. There is no shortage of support.

The next steps in my career journey

I want to focus on getting a distinction in my apprenticeship, getting a contract and then seeing from there if I want to do an HNC or whether I want to rise up through the ranks organically and see where it takes me.

Find out more about this role

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.

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