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Meet Micah Charles

Electrical Engineering Technician

Micah is an apprentice Electrical Engineering Fitter at Powell

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What I do

At Powell, we make switchgear – they’re like big fuse boxes that control electrical power for places that use a lot of electricity, like oil rigs and factories. I help turn ideas and designs into detailed plans that can be built for the customer.

We don’t just sell one standard product – we build every switchgear from scratch, based around what the customer needs, so every job is a bit different.

Electrical Engineering Technician Micah, following a wiring diagram to wire up a cabinet full of electrical components, on the workshop floor.

How I became a technician

At school, I didn’t pick my GCSE options based on any career ideas. I chose PE because I liked sports, citizenship (which is a bit like law), geography and French.

When I was 16, I still had no clue what I wanted to do. My school was very focussed on college and then university, but then someone came in and explained apprenticeships to us as another option, and I thought it sounded interesting.

How I became a technician

I liked the idea of an apprenticeship, because I didn’t love learning in a classroom environment. I’m more hands-on and I’ve always liked design.

I used to do joinery with my grandad (woodwork, using tools to build things), which I really enjoyed.

I went to a college open day where they helped match me with apprenticeships that suited me.

How I became a technician

Apprenticeships at Powell stood out to me, because you rotate around departments, so you can try loads of different areas, instead of getting stuck in one thing and risking it not being for you.

I ended up doing around 20 interviews and got offers from five different companies. Then I got offered the Powell one, and I went for it.

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A typical day in my working life

Right now, I’m working in the engineering department, which is where I want to be. I work from 8am to 4pm and I live about 10 minutes away, so getting into work is easy.

When I arrive, the first thing I do is I check in with whoever I’m working with, and the project manager, to find out what my tasks are for the day, and what’s most urgent.

A typical day in my working life

Engineering can be busy, so it’s not just one job at a time – you might have a few jobs on the go, and you’ve got to work out what the priority is.

A big part of my job is taking customer documents and diagrams and turning them into detailed drawings that technicians in the workshop can understand and build from.

A typical day in my working life

I use CAD (computer-aided design) software for 2D drawings (like line drawings and schematics), and a program called Inventor for 3D models, which allows you to rotate it and see what’s inside.

The first couple of hours can be learning and figuring out what I’m doing. After lunch is when I get loads of the drawing done, once I’ve had time to fully work out and understand the task.

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Electrical Engineering Technician Micah, sat at a desk with two screens, using AutoCAD software.

What I love about my job

My favourite thing is that every day is different. Every project is unique, and sometimes it involves something you’ve never seen before. That makes it somewhere I want to turn up to, somewhere I’m always learning.

I also really like the people. Going from school to work is a big jump, especially when you’re suddenly around people who could be 20 or 30 years older than you, but I’ve found you learn loads from them and everyone’s really nice.

I love that I can make something on the computer, then go downstairs and see it being built. It makes me think, “I’ve engineered that and been a big part of it being made”.

The skills I use most

Problem solving is a big one. When I’m designing, I’m not just thinking what looks good on a screen – I’m thinking about how the workshop will actually build it. Sometimes I have to change my plan because my first idea would be harder to make.

Confidence matters too. Engineering can be trial and error, so I have to be prepared to try different methods of finding a solution and have confidence to speak to more experienced people to get their opinions.

If something goes wrong in engineering, it can snowball and cause problems further down the line, so it’s important to speak up and check that things are right. As an apprentice, asking questions and being willing to learn is one of the most important things.

Resilience is another big one. Sometimes I’ll work on something for a full day and keep getting told “no, you can’t do that”. You’ve got to stick with it and not give up.

I love that I can make something on the computer, then go downstairs and see it being built.
It’s OK to not know what you want to do... try not to stress about it on top of exams – your path finds you eventually.

A little more about my everyday role

The best bits about working in a team

In the engineering team, there are about 20 engineers, split into mechanical and electrical, plus a few people who do a mix of both. We also sit near project managers, and sales are just downstairs, so you’re always linking up with people from other departments.

As an apprentice, it’s really helpful because there are always people you can go to if you need support, or you’ve hit a problem. So if I’m ever stuck, I’m not just walking around hoping someone’s free – I know who to ask, and there’s always support.

My favourite piece of equipment

Mine is CAD (computer-aided design) software. I like using it to make schematics, especially when I’m working on a chassis (a smaller box that helps make up the whole switchgear). They have to meet certain electrical ratings, so I need to make sure I’ve used the right components.

I like that my job feels like solving a puzzle – I’m designing where things will go, like fuse switches and transformers, while also making sure it’s practical for someone else to actually build it.

What I like to do in my spare time

Sport is a big one for me. I play rugby professionally, which can be intense because I work from 8am to 4pm, then I train and play rugby from 5pm to 9pm most days. I play for Leeds Rhinos on loan but my main team is Bradford Bulls.

I also play football and I like the usual teen stuff too – going out with my mates and playing Xbox. I’ve played loads of games over the years, I like lots of games now, but when I was younger I mostly played Fortnite.

My school days

School was fine, but I didn’t have a big plan for what I wanted to do. I mainly enjoyed PE and sport, especially rugby.

I did practical stuff outside school with my grandad because he’s a joiner and he’d get me helping him build things in his garden with his tools. Looking back, that hands-on side really suited me.

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

The stand-out thing for me was working on a project called Shelbonga. It’s a big offshore oil rig project in Nigeria, and it’s the biggest job Powell has ever had.

I got assigned to do some of the drawings for it, and that meant a lot because it felt like the company trusted me with something that matters to them.

A surprising fact about my job

A lot of people think engineering is just sitting at a computer making a perfect design, but you have to think about real-life building.

I’m always asking myself, can the workshop actually make this easily? Sometimes the best design on screen isn’t the best design in real life.

The next steps in my career journey

My apprenticeship lasts for four years. I’ve finished Level 2 and I’m working on my Level 3 now, then the last year is an end point assessment.

Long term, I want to stay in engineering because that’s the area I enjoy most.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

It’s OK to not know what you want to do. When you’re in Year 10 and Year 11, it can feel like everyone else has a plan, and you’re the only one who doesn’t – but that’s normal.

I only really decided what to do after my GCSEs, and it worked out. Try not to stress about it on top of exams – your path finds you eventually.

Electrical Engineering Technician Micah, on the workshop floor, using a tool to put a new electrical cabinet together.

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