Ben Lockett, Mechanical Engineering Technician

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What I do

At the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, we have a selection of specialist equipment that scientists use, so they can carry out experiments they wouldn’t normally be able to afford to do themselves.

My job is to help make the parts and equipment they need. To do this, I use things like CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines, manual mills and lathes, hydraulic presses and bandsaws.

As part of my apprenticeship, I get to work in different departments for a few months at a time, building components and prototypes for experiments.

A lot of the time, I work in the machine shops using tools that cut and shape metal or plastic, so it becomes the exact shape to make the part a scientist needs.

Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Ben, stood next to a large industrial CNC milling machine.

How I became a technician

I grew up very close to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory site, so I always knew it was there. When I was younger, I used to walk past and look through the fence – I knew it was the science place, and I was fascinated with what went on in there!

At school, I enjoyed my GCSEs and chose subjects like geography, computer science and Spanish, alongside maths and science.

How I became a technician

After my GCSEs, I went on to study A-level physics, computer science, chemistry and economics.

My original plan was to choose three after the first year, thinking I would probably drop economics, but I ended up loving it and dropped chemistry instead.

How I became a technician

I always thought I would go to university and study engineering. I even applied for (and got offered) a mix of automotive engineering courses and foundation engineering courses, because I wasn’t sure what type of engineering I wanted to specialise in.

But then something unexpected happened...

How I became a technician

A family friend who worked at the laboratory came to dinner and told me I should apply for an apprenticeship there. There was an open day he suggested I attend, but I forgot to book tickets and almost didn’t go – but he’d actually booked one for me!

When I visited the site, I immediately changed my mind about university and decided to apply for the apprenticeship instead.

How I became a technician

What appealed to me about an apprenticeship here was that you get the chance to go straight into mechanical engineering, and it gave me real hands-on experience straight away.

Luckily, I got the place, and now I’m here doing a Level 3 mechanical engineering apprenticeship.

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A typical day in my working life

My workplace uses flexible hours, which means our start and finish times are flexible. I usually like to arrive at about 8am and finish around 4pm.

When I get into the workshop, I check my emails and then start working on whatever project I’m doing.

A typical day in my working life

During the morning, I might plan how to make a part, ask colleagues for advice and then start machining it.

At the moment, I’m making a round part, so I’ve been using a lathe (a machine for shaping metal, which works by turning the piece against shaped cutting tools).

A typical day in my working life

At 10:30am, I usually meet the other apprentices for a tea break in the coffee lounge, which overlooks one of the experiment areas.

It’s cool because I can sometimes see experiments happening while I’m having my break.

A typical day in my working life

Lunch is usually at around 12:30pm in the canteen.

After that, I go back to the workshop and keep machining or programming machines until about 4pm.

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Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Ben, wearing latex gloves, using a tool to fix a machine.

What I love about my job

One of the best parts of my job is seeing how the things I make are used in experiments.

It’s a place where everyone is passionate about science and engineering, and that makes it really inspiring to work here.

During one placement, I worked near the target station of a synchrotron – a huge machine that uses powerful magnets to speed up tiny, charged particles so they produce useful beams of radiation for experiments. Scientists would come in with their equipment and experiments, and I would make the parts they needed.

Sometimes I would talk to the scientist, and they would show me how the part I made fitted into their experiment. That was really exciting because I could see exactly how my work helped them.

Another thing I love is the people. There are so many knowledgeable people working here and everyone is happy to explain what they’re doing. No one person could build something as complicated as a synchrotron – it takes lots of people working together.

The skills I use most

Patience is a really important skill in my job. Sometimes a part doesn’t work the way I expect and I have to start again. When that happens, I just remind myself that I’ll probably make it faster the second time, because now I know what I’m doing.

Problem solving is another big one. A lot of the work involves figuring out how to make something that hasn’t been made before. I might look at a drawing and think it’s simple, then realise there’s a tricky feature that needs a completely new approach.

Being practical and hands-on also helps. I enjoy working with machines, tools and materials, and figuring out how to turn a design into a real object.

One of the best parts of my job is seeing how the things I make are used in experiments.

It’s a place where everyone is passionate about science and engineering, and that makes it really inspiring to work here.

No one person could build something as complicated as a synchrotron – it takes lots of people working together.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

Working in a team is great because everyone thinks about problems differently. In every workshop there’s usually someone who has been doing the job for years and has loads of experience.

Sometimes I might spend hours thinking about how to make a part. Then I take it to someone more experienced, and they immediately come up with a clever solution that I would never have thought of.

I learn a lot just by watching how other people work. I often stand nearby and see what techniques they use, then try those ideas in my own work later. Because of that, you learn much faster as part of a team than you would on your own.

My favourite piece of equipment

My favourite machine is a CNC mill. CNC stands for computer numerical control. That means the machine follows programmed instructions to cut materials very precisely.

The machine I used had something called conversational software. Instead of writing complicated code on a computer, I could programme each step directly on the machine’s control panel. It had pictures showing what each setting did and even allowed me to run simulations before starting.

I loved using it because it made programming much more interactive and easier to understand. It also helped me see exactly how the tool would move and shape the material before the machine actually started cutting.

What I like to do in my spare time

Motorcycles are my biggest hobby. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and solving problems, so restoring bikes is perfect for me.

Right now, I have a few bikes that I’m working on. One is from 1986 and another from 1993. The older they are, the more work they need, but that’s part of the fun. I enjoy fixing them up and trying to get them running again.

I also love going for rides and planning trips. Sometimes I travel through Europe to meet friends and visit motorcycle festivals where we can test ride new bikes.

When I’m not working on bikes, I spend time with my girlfriend. We like going to the cinema and we love to build Lego together. It’s a pretty simple life, but I enjoy it.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

One of the most exciting things I’ve done was making an extremely tiny part for a scientist. It was a plastic coil that had to be square instead of round and it had to measure just 1 millimetre by 1 millimetre. It was tiny. If you dropped it on the floor, you’d probably never find it again!

It was one of the first parts I ever programmed on a CNC machine and it was very tricky to make. I even had to create special tools to hold the piece while cutting it. After a lot of careful work, I finally managed to make it successfully, which felt like a big achievement.

A surprising fact about my job

One surprising thing about my job is how different every task can be. Sometimes I might make a part in just ten minutes. Other times I could spend days or even weeks working on a complicated component.

Also, making the part isn’t always the hardest part. Sometimes I have to design or build special tools just so I can make the actual component. For example, I once had to create a tool to hold a cutting device inside a machine press.

Without that tool, the cutting device would have flown out of the machine. A lot of engineering is really about solving problems and figuring out the best way to make something possible.

The next steps in my career journey

I’m doing a four-year apprenticeship, where I’ll keep rotating through different departments so I can learn new skills and find out about all the different types of work here.

Next, I’ll be working with the Central Laser Facility, which will be completely different from the departments I’ve worked in so far. I’ll also start studying for a Higher National Certificate, which is a Level 4 qualification.

Eventually I’d like to turn my apprenticeship into a Level 6 apprenticeship, which is a degree level apprenticeship.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Always give your best effort. When I was younger, I didn’t always put my all into everything and looking back, I think I could have achieved even more if I had.

Now, I try to make sure that if I’m doing something, I’m really committing to it. Otherwise, I feel like I’m wasting my time.

I’d also say follow what interests you. When I chose economics instead of chemistry at A-level it turned out to be the subject I did best in, simply because I enjoyed it so much.