As young people across Tyrone consider their next steps following exam results season, a former Castlederg High School pupil is encouraging others to explore degree apprenticeships after turning a childhood interest with farm machinery into a career in engineering with Terex.
Kyle Young, a former pupil of Castlederg High School, has completed a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering through a four-year degree apprenticeship programme with Terex and Ulster University.
Kyle's passion for engineering began at an early age through his interest in machinery and understanding how things work.
"Growing up, I had an interest in how things work and how they were made, particularly machinery on my family farm," he said. "This led me to study engineering throughout school and college full-time, which then led me to apply for the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering degree apprenticeship." |  |
The four-year programme combined academic study at Ulster University's Derry/Londonderry campus with practical industry experience, allowing Kyle to develop his skills while working within a real manufacturing environment.
"The apprenticeship interested me because I could complete the university work while also working in industry and gaining experience at the same time," he said.
Throughout the programme, Kyle worked as part of the manufacturing fabrication team at Terex Omagh, gaining hands-on experience while developing his engineering knowledge.
"Throughout the four-year apprenticeship, the manufacturing fabrication team were a huge help to my development and learning," he said. "They also supported me with university projects throughout the course, including my final-year project."
Reflecting on his apprenticeship journey, Kyle believes the experience gained in the workplace was just as valuable as the qualification itself.
"Studying engineering at university while working in industry gave me the opportunity to apply what I was learning in a practical environment," he said. "It helped me develop both academically and professionally throughout the four years."
Having successfully completed the programme, Kyle plans to continue developing his career at Terex as a Manufacturing Engineer within the fabrication team.
"For my future at Terex, I want to continue developing my experience as a Manufacturing Engineer and build on everything I've learned throughout the apprenticeship," he said.
Kyle would encourage other young people to consider an apprenticeship route.
"I would highly recommend an apprenticeship. You're able to study the academic side through university while gaining experience through industry work at the same time. It does have its challenges, balancing university and work commitments, but in the end it's worth it."
Kyle Spence, Lead Manufacturing Engineer at Terex Omagh, said:
"Kyle's achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication he has shown throughout his apprenticeship. He has grown in confidence, developed strong technical skills and become a valued member of the team.
Investing in apprenticeships is an important way for us to develop future engineering talent. By combining academic learning with real-world experience, apprentices gain the skills needed to succeed in industry while bringing new ideas and energy into the business. Kyle's journey is a great example of the opportunities this pathway can create, and we are delighted to see him continue his career with Terex."
Terex, a global manufacturing company which employs people across multiple locations in Northern Ireland including Lurgan, Dungannon, Cookstown, Omagh, Ballymoney and Campsie, continues to invest in apprenticeship and early-careers programmes that provide the opportunity to gain industry experience while studying towards recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit www.terex.com
