Grace McCrickard
Grace McCrickard, Senior Electrical Technician
Grace has been an outstanding student from day one. Her time at JFN has seen her successfully gain an electrical apprenticeship and her HNC. Grace is currently studying her HND in electrical engineering, and recently secured a place to start her degree in January 2023 through the City & Guilds Foundation Charles Brookes bursary.
Grace is a true inspiration to other students, her tenacity and thirst for learning have resulted in her excelling in her studies and chosen profession.
Grace, can you take us through your experience as a JFN apprenticeship?
I started my apprenticeship with JFN in 2017. The first 12 months of my apprenticeship was at Gen2 full time for my basic electrical hands-on training, followed by a weekly day release for my course work for two out of the four years of my apprenticeship.
While carrying out the last two years of my apprenticeship, I also worked hard towards gaining my HNC in electrical engineering which was funded by JFN. I completed my HNC before the end of my apprenticeship period as well as my 18th edition wiring regulations. I then carried out exams and practical assessments which resulted in passing my NVQ level 4 electrical installation and maintenance apprenticeship with a distinction, which I am really proud of!
The same year I passed my apprenticeship I also started my HND in electrical engineering which I am currently finding very interesting and enjoying the challenging assignments and practical work.
My next stage of education is my bachelors degree level which is an additional 18 months after I have completed my HND. Gen2 have offered to pay for my degree course personally as they can see my hard work and good efforts throughout the years I have been there, so they would personally like to take me to my degree level as they know that this is a strong ambition of mine, and they have also seen the hard work I have put in throughout the years to get to this point. This is such an amazing opportunity for me, and I could not be more grateful.
It's all well-deserved and must be exciting. What does it mean to you?
It means so much to me as JFN and GEN2 has helped me achieve all the goals I wanted to achieve in my education and working life. To become a fully qualified ROV EC&I Electrical Engineer and UVS Pilot with a future bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering is a dream of mine and I could not be more grateful!
The opportunities I have been given throughout my five years of being at JFN has been outstanding and I have worked hard to achieve them all to the best of my ability. I feel as though my knowledge, understanding and skills have progressed so massively in five years that I would of never imagined this in such a short period!
I am still very keen to progress further and to keep expanding my knowledge and skills to improve my work within my role at JFN and to be the best that I can be for myself and this company.
You were selected by Gen2 to share your learners journey, can you tell us about that?
Collaborative working is a fundamental part of Gen2’s ethos, and they hosted a 3-day visit for the City & Guilds Executive Team. During the visit the Exec team visited the Gen2 centres, met staff and took part in several key meetings. The highlight of the visit was an evening dinner for the City & Guilds Exec Team, Gen2 Senior Team and six specially selected Gen2 apprentices, including myself, asked to share our learner journey’s.
You had the opportunity to share your story with royalty?
Yes, following on from the City and Guilds dinner hosted at Gen2, the CEO of City and Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, personally invited me down to the Princess Royal Training Award ceremony held in London.
The ceremony was hosted by herself and Princess Anne! It was a VIP special guest invite to attend the award ceremony with champagne afternoon tea afterwards with them.
I was really honoured by this as it is a special invite from the CEO of City and Guilds who I have only met once, but made such an impression on her that she invited me down to tell my story to Princess Anne myself! Once in a lifetime opportunity!
You’ve been selected as a finalist for the 2023 NSAN Awards?
Yes. JFN nominated me and I’ve now been selected as a finalist for the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) Awards Advanced Apprentice Award so fingers crossed!
