DCG Success Stories

Former Derby College welding student Matt Crowston had always planned to go to university but is instead getting top level training with leading power systems company Doosan Babcock.

He is among five students who got the opportunity to apply for the apprenticeship while on the level 3 course at DCG’s Ilkeston site.

Matt, who is 21 and from Eastwood, originally started a welding course with another training provider so he could work in his dad’s car restoration business.

But he later switched to Derby College mainly because it offered plate welding, allowing him to take his skills to a higher level and work in other industries.

Matt said: “I liked the course. It was tough at times but always engaging.

One of the best aspects about it was the lecturers. Our tutor Sean had come from an industry background and he was able to pass on his experience to us, giving us real world examples of where we could end up once we’d qualified.

We were also made aware of the high demand for skilled plate welders and the sort of pay levels we could be getting.”

Currently at Doosan’s welding school in Tipton in the West Midlands, Matt is grateful for the chance to train with such an eminent company.

He added: “I’d say that one of the best parts about our apprentice welding training is that we’re motivated to develop our skills and produce the best work we can.

We’re taught that a good weld can always be better. This scheme is for four years and there’s a possibility we’ll be working at nuclear power plants Sizewell C in Suffolk or Sellafield in Cumbria.”

I’m living away as part of the apprenticeship but I don’t mind at all. Before this opportunity came along, I’d already decided I’d be taking level 4 and going on to university, so leaving home was always part of the plan.”