Knowsley Council is supporting National Apprenticeship Week which takes place from 9 – 15 February 2026.
It’s a week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
You can find out more about National Apprenticeship Week here.
As part of National Apprentice Week, two young people from Halewood share their experiences of their apprenticeship at Ford Halewood.
Joe Armbruster, second year apprentice:
What made you apply for the apprenticeship scheme at Ford?
During the refit of Halewood to manufacture Power Units, the then Plant Manager came round to my college and looked at some of our engineering course work and spoke to us about the investment Ford had made into Halewood. I was passionate about a sustainable future and saw working for Ford at Halewood as a means to support the green transition while developing my skills at a company renowned for their apprenticeship programme.
What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship?
The support you get from your colleagues is fantastic and they are able to articulate the particulars of complex problems quite well, often owing to their own experiences as an apprentice themselves.
Is there a particular experience or opportunity of your apprenticeship that you really liked and could share?
I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to work with our newly introduced SPOT the Robot Dog. I am responsible for setting up the inspection routes and looking after SPOT on a daily basis. Working with SPOT isn’t quite like anything else I have ever worked with and certainly not what I expected my Apprenticeship to involve.
What do you think makes the automotive sector an exciting place to work?
The Automotive industry is an exciting industry to work in due the vastly different experiences you can have on a day-to-day basis.
Is there any advice or encouragement that you could give to someone who wants to start an apprenticeship in the automotive sector but worries it isn’t for them?
The sheer variety of roles you can play in the automotive sector mean that there is always something you can find that you enjoy.
Harry Johnston, fourth year apprentice:
What made you apply for the apprenticeship scheme at Ford?
I applied for this apprenticeship due to my interest in manufacturing. From a young age I was always interested in cars and how they worked, so I saw this as a massive opportunity to see behind the scenes and learn a lot more about them. Another reason I applied was because I was aware of how good the apprenticeship scheme was here through the likes of my brother, who had previously served his time as an apprentice at Ford Halewood. Finally, the main reason for applying for this job was because I wanted to become an electrical engineer, as I believe having these skills will be very useful in later life.
What do you/did you enjoy the most about your apprenticeship?
Learning every day and gaining knowledge all the time. There isn’t a day in work where I don’t learn or come across something new.
What skills have you learned recently in your apprentice?
I have picked up a lot of skills recently due to me moving onto a new area within the last six months. This area had different machines to past areas I had been on such as the Junker and Mae machines. I have learnt how these machines run and how to fix some of the common faults on them. The main skill I have learnt as of late would be how to clear out NC and PLC data from the NC.
Is there a particular experience or opportunity of your apprenticeship that you really liked and could share?
I was put forward for a media day when the E-Drive was launched, this put me out of my comfort zone, but it helped me be more confident in pressure situations. Another experience I liked a lot was the start of my second year which involved coming into work for 4/5 days a week. This was a daunting experience, but it was amazing to finally see and understand what goes on in work on a day-to-day basis. There has been courses I have been on with other apprentices which I enjoyed as well.
What do you think makes the automotive sector an exciting place to work?
It is always evolving. New ideas are constantly being made, and you can see that with your own eyes each day. The E-Drive is a perfect example of that, as I have seen the difference between the machines that make the part for the electric cars and the machines that make the parts for the non-electric cars.
Is there any advice or encouragement that you could give to someone who wants to start an apprenticeship in the automotive sector but worries it isn’t for them?
All I would say is, go for it! It is a great experience; four years where you will meet new people, learn new skills and progress as a maintenance engineer. The people who you work with are always there to help and teach you new things that you will need for the future, these are the people who will guide you to being the engineer you want to be when you finish your apprenticeship. Ford Halewood is a perfect opportunity for anyone who is debating whether to do an apprenticeship as they have already planned, by starting to manufacture electrical power units which will secure work for the future. The biggest tip I can give is to get stuck in and have a go at any job you get asked to do. If you show you are interested then you will go far in this sector.