Aran Beyaz from Dyce Academy in Aberdeen had a mentor and paid work experience placement with bp. This opened his eyes to opportunities in the energy sector, where he’s now an apprentice. This is his story.
“Before Career Ready, I was uncertain about my future and what career path I wanted to go down,” says Aran. “I didn’t have a clear idea, but I definitely couldn’t see myself in a professional office environment.”
The benefit of a mentor
Aran was paired with mentor Gary McIntosh, a Turnaround Operations Specialist at bp.
“Gary showed me everything that I could do in the company and the route he had taken to get to where he is today,” Aran says.
“That gave me a wider perspective and helped me make decisions on what I wanted to do in the future – especially my interest in engineering.”
Real tasks and challenges
“During my work placement at bp, I was given real tasks and challenges that people in the industry face day-to-day,” Aran adds. “I got an insight to the kind of stuff I could be doing in the future.
“My favourite part was the trips to Aquaterra and 3t Training, where I took part in offshore survival and confined spaces training. It gave me experience and a taster of offshore training.”
His new network also helped him explore his options.
“I networked with people from all different parts of the company, heard about what they get up to, and gained valuable advice.
“I learned more about the range of opportunities in oil and gas – and the fact that there’s a lot of chances for movement into different areas, even after you’ve started.
“The placement helped me confirm my decision to pursue mechanical engineering.”
Becoming an apprentice
After his placement, Aran successfully applied for an APTUS apprenticeship – a four-year technical training scheme for the UK energy sector that matches apprentices with participating partner companies, such as bp, to provide support and mentoring.
“I’m now a first-year mechanical technician apprentice with Wood,” he says.
“Career Ready was a great factor in securing a place. My placement with bp definitely gave me an insight into what was in store for my future in the sector – and confidence in going into my apprenticeship, too.”
