Sam Slingsby, Composites Technician

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What I do

I make products and parts with composite materials, for organisations who want to test how parts are made (for cars, planes or boats) and develop them to become more efficient. I do this at NCC, where we help companies try out new ways of making parts before they are used in real production.

Composites are materials made from two or more layers of materials with different properties, to create a material which is stronger or lighter, or both. Our customers are people who make everything from cars to aeroplanes, who may have a problem with a part, or want to improve how it’s made. We research, develop and test a new version which they can then produce and use to make their product better.

Sam on the factory floor in front of materials laid out on a large curved surface.

How I became a technician

At school, I wasn’t sure what career I wanted to go in to, for GCSEs, I studied triple science, design and technology (materials) and geography.

I’ve always been more of a hands-on learner, and when I was younger, I spent a lot of time helping my dad who is an upholsterer, learning lots about woodwork and working with fabric.

How I became a technician

After school, I studied an engineering T-level at my local college. It gave me a taste of engineering and even touched on composite materials.

That’s when I realised how much I enjoyed the practical side of things. The T-level gave me a taste of experiencing the workplace, and made me keen to find an apprenticeship, where I could continue to work and learn.

How I became a technician

My mum found an advert for a composite technician apprenticeship at NCC, and I went for an interview. As soon as I stepped inside and saw all the high-tech equipment and cool machines, I knew I wanted to work there!

The interview focused on how I learn rather than what I already knew. They gave me a small task and watched how I approached it.

How I became a technician

They weren’t looking for experts, just people who were keen to learn and could tackle something logically.

I got the job and haven’t looked back since. I’m now in my third year, gaining loads of experience and getting paid to learn every day.

A typical day in my working life

I work in shifts – one week I work 6am to 3pm, and the next week I work 1pm to 10pm. Every Friday we finish early, which is great.

I start by checking my emails and then I go to a team meeting where we run through updates from the previous shift and work out the day’s jobs, as well as other things like checking any health and safety issues.

A typical day in my working life

Most of the time I’m working on a giant robot called the pilot line. It builds large parts like aeroplane wings by layering materials using heat and pressure, so we can test and develop them.

At the moment we are testing a section of an aeroplane propellor which has experienced a fault. The robot is so big it can test parts up to 26 metres long, so it’s not unusual to be working on something as big as an aeroplane wing.

A typical day in my working life

I also help with hand layups, where we build up layers of fabric by hand to test different designs for parts.

At the end of the day, we tidy up our workspace, record what we’ve done and hand over to the next shift.

Sam wearing a protective suit, gloves and goggles, about to cast a mould.

What I love about my job

I never know what I’m going to be doing each day, and that’s what I love. There’s always a new challenge which keeps things exciting. I’ve also learnt how to talk through plans with the engineers and understand the technical side of it all, which was hard at first but really rewarding. It’s helped me become more confident and better at what I do.

The skills I use most

Teamwork is important. I work in a small group, so we need to get on and support each other, especially when things go wrong. Communication is also really important. If we don’t pass on the right information, whole jobs can fall apart.

Problem solving is something I do every day. Whether it’s a robot not working properly or a material not sticking right, we’re always figuring things out. And being open to learning is a must! The technology we use is changing all the time, so you have to be ready to pick up new skills.

I never know what I’m going to be doing each day, and that’s what I love. There’s always a new challenge which keeps things exciting.

The technology we use is changing all the time, so you have to be ready to pick up new skills.

Some of the best things I’ve done came from giving something a go, even if I wasn’t sure at the start.

A little more about my everyday role

The best part of working in a team

I work with a team of about five people on the pilot line. Some of them have been working here for years, and they’re always happy to help and share what they know. That means I’m learning new things all the time.

We all work shifts, so it’s important to keep each other updated and work smoothly together, making sure we hand over information to the team who are taking over to work the evening shift. And it’s important to be patient, respectful and look out for each other. We have a great team, it’s good to know that there’s always someone you can ask for help or advice if you get stuck.

My favourite piece of equipment

It’s hard to choose just one because all the equipment is impressive. But if I had to pick, I’d say the pilot line robot. It’s massive and built to make huge parts like aircraft wings, using flash lamps to heat up and stick strands of material together. It’s still being developed, so we’re helping to fine-tune it and figure out how to make it faster and more accurate.

It’s exciting because when it’s fully working, it should be able to make two wings in a week, something that would take nearly a year doing it by hand. It cost over £400 million so it’s an incredible opportunity to be able to work with it.

What I like to do in my spare time

When I’m not at work, I like going to the gym and I also have a part-time job at a pub. I enjoy the routine and it keeps me busy.

My school days

I did well at school but didn’t think university was right for me. I’ve always liked practical things and being hands-on, and I wanted to learn by doing, not just sitting and studying. That’s why the apprenticeship route made sense for me.

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

The job I’m most proud of was a project called Turbo, which involved making sections of a big turbine blade. At the start, it took me over three weeks and I needed a lot of help, but by the end, I could do it almost all by myself in just four or five days. It was the first time I felt fully confident and independent at work, and it showed me how much I’d improved since starting my apprenticeship.

A surprising fact about my job

People are often surprised that we don’t actually make the final products. Instead, we build prototypes and test new ideas to see how to make things better.

The next steps in my career journey

I’m in my final year of my three-year apprenticeship, and when I finish, I’d like to stay on at NCC and do more training. They offer extra qualifications and I’d like to work my way up while learning on the job.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Don’t close yourself off to new opportunities. Try new things, you never know where they might lead. Some of the best things I’ve done came from giving something a go, even if I wasn’t sure at the start.