Daniel Pownall, Engineering Manufacturing Technician

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What I do

I’m an Engineering Manufacturing Technician at Capula in Stone. My job involves building control panels and cabinets that are used in power plants and nuclear sites across the UK. The cabinets are metal boxes which are full of terminals, relays, wires and different components. We use packs containing all the power supplies and parts that we need and follow the engineer’s drawings and plans to connect the parts and assemble the panels, which are later installed on site. It’s a mix of mechanical and electrical work, and no two days are the same!

Daniel in the workshop, using a tabletop piece of equipment.

How I became a technician

My journey to becoming a technician was a bit different. After school, I went to sixth form and did a sports course because I loved sports and wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

How I became a technician

I did a few different jobs after that, like working in recruitment and at the Stoke City F.C. ticket office. When COVID hit, I started my own car valeting and detailing business, but after three years, I realised it wasn't for me.

How I became a technician

I wanted to keep learning and progressing, so I started looking at apprenticeships and found this one at Capula. I was surprised to get in because about 1,000 people applied, and they only took on 30.

How I became a technician

I'm nearly at the end of my first year now, and it's been a great experience learning new skills and working on interesting projects.

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A typical day in my working life

My day starts at 8am. For the first couple of hours, I pick up from where I left off the day before, finishing tasks or starting new ones.

A typical day in my working life

A big part of my job is building the cabinets, which involves installing various kits containing everything we need and wiring all the components including terminals, trunking and DIN rails, which are the metal rails that mount the circuit breakers and control equipment.

A typical day in my working life

We follow plans and engineering drawings to make sure everything is installed correctly and then the panels are tested. It's a mix of mechanical work and wiring, and can also involve drilling, soldering and crimping.

A typical day in my working life

Towards the end of the day, we’re usually heads down to get as much done as possible, especially if we're working on a project with a tight deadline.

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It's been a great experience learning new skills and working on interesting projects.

I love that it’s challenging and there's always something new to learn.

What I love about my job

I love that my work is challenging and that there’s always something new to learn – this keeps me engaged and makes it interesting. It’s also satisfying to see a project come together from start to finish, and to work on it all the way through the process. No two days are the same, which works well for me!

The skills I use the most

Attention to detail is essential in my job. When we’re looking at drawings, even the tiniest detail can make a big difference. Being a team player is also important because we often work in teams. The work can vary from big projects, like building large cabinets, to smaller, more intricate tasks, so you need to be adaptable and ready to tackle different challenges.

A little more about
my everyday role

My favourite piece of equipment

I like using the bigger pieces of machinery, like the big saws. They were daunting at first, but once you've been trained on them and know how to use them, they're quite cool to use. They make the work a lot quicker and more efficient.

What I like to do in my spare time

In my spare time, I watch a lot of football. I also play five-a-side football once a week and I've got a season ticket at Stoke City and go to most of their games. I also use my holidays to watch England play, I enjoy the experience and the atmosphere.

My school days

During my school days, I was very focused on sports, especially football. I played and watched a lot of football. I also had an interest in DIY and liked doing little projects at home, but I never thought I'd make a career out of it. For my GCSEs, I did PE, geography, computing, business, and Spanish, along with the usual maths and science. After school, I went to sixth form to do a Sports Studies course because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, I just knew I loved sport – but now I see it’s the hands-on projects I did which have lead me to where I am now!

The advice I’d give to someone younger

My advice would be to stay ambitious and keep pushing yourself, don't settle for being comfortable. There are opportunities out there, you just have to find them - keep looking for ways to improve and move forward.

The best part of working in a team

The best part of working in a team is the support you get from your colleagues. Our production team is quite big, with about 30 people, and it's broken down into smaller teams depending on the project. There are always experienced people around to help if you get stuck, and we're encouraged to ask for help when we need it. It's a great environment for learning and improving your skills.