My name is William Edward-Olaniyi (but some call me Will for short), and I am completing a degree apprenticeship with STFC.
During my time on the apprenticeship, I work as a Control Systems and Safety Interlocks software engineer, while also studying at the Manchester Metropolitan University. My degree is in Digital Technology Solutions and, as I enter the second year of my apprenticeship, I will be taking the software engineer pathway.
While at STFC, I have been working closely with another apprentice in my group to complete a wide variety of projects, spanning from developing software-based applications and solutions to working on hardware, and learning how to modify fans, and solder circuits and parts.
One of the software projects that I have worked on is a sequencer program that will be integrated with support modules for the CLARA (Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications) test facility at Daresbury Laboratory. This programme ensures that there are safe power increments, avoiding trips when sending a power request to a device that is too high or low.
This project allowed me to put into practice a variety of different skills I have learnt and enabled me to gain knowledge on not only areas of code that I was not familiar with but also areas of STFC I was previously unaware of. This includes the way in which different groups at Daresbury Laboratory interact and come together to make their projects work.
If I had not come to STFC, I doubt I would have had any knowledge about projects like CLARA and why they are important. However, I took an interest and have found out about the ways the accelerator has been used in the past, such as Cadbury using it to test and develop better chocolate.
This is not only a cool, fun fact but really shows how the projects we work on have a variety of wider benefits that I may have never thought of. Never in a million years would I ever think that the accelerator I’m working on, or anything at that, may help me have a better dairy milk experience!
In terms of hardware projects, I have set up modified fans and learnt how they are useful for different computers. This showed how decisions are made for computers and servers based on what they are made to specialise in.
One of the things that I am enjoying the most on my apprenticeship is the support in place for those within their early careers. The process is very organised and allows for the early career employees to feel valued.
There is support for every aspect of work and even for general life like maintaining a work-life balance. STFC also allows for continuous professional development and their attitude towards learning is highly positive.
This allowed me as an apprentice, especially coming into a pathway that is very niche and may seem daunting at first, to feel at ease, well supported, and motivated continually to do better.
I have learnt an immense amount of knowledge, as well as gained social skills that I will carry with me for life.
All in all, my time as a degree apprentice at the Technology Department has been nothing but positive. STFC is a place for all those interested in early careers to grow and be nurtured into professional and equally curious engineers.
