Alumni In The Limelight: Ben

At Vandyke, we are incredibly proud of the outstanding achievements of our students. Students who leave Vandyke go on to secure places on a range of university courses including Russell Group and Oxbridge institutions. In addition, students have secured higher level degree apprenticeships with top employers such as Santander, Ernst and Young, UBS, VW, Vauxhall, BE Aerospace and many more.

Once a month, we will hear from a former student, who will share their career pathway since leaving Vandyke. Here, we meet Ben. Ben is currently in his final year of a degree apprenticeship in engineering for Siemens…

After leaving sixth form, I moved more than two hours away from home to start a Degree Apprenticeship with Siemens in Chippenham. I work full-time for Siemens and attend university for six weeks each year where I study Rail and Rail Systems Engineering (at London South Bank University). One aspect I really enjoy is that my block-release university study is based in London, with Siemens covering my accommodation during these periods. This gives me the opportunity to meet students from across the industry, experience life in London, and of course focus on my studies. I am currently in my final year and, upon graduation in March 2027, I will achieve a BEng (Hons) degree alongside my apprenticeship qualification. My graduation will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and is something I am very proud of.

Another major benefit of my apprenticeship has been the opportunity to complete placements across a range of engineering disciplines within Siemens. These placements have helped me broaden my technical knowledge and identify where my interests lie. Following the completion of my apprenticeship, I aim to progress into a Project Engineering role, contributing to multi‑million‑pound rail projects across the UK and Ireland.

I have really enjoyed working for a large organisation like Siemens, particularly being surrounded by hundreds of other apprentices and graduates. This has allowed me to build a strong professional network and work alongside people of a similar age who are all at similar stages in their careers.

Siemens provides excellent support. We are given time during the working week to revise and complete assignments, and getting paid while studying is always a bonus.

I was originally torn between attending university and pursuing a degree apprenticeship, and I declined an offer from the University of Leeds to take this route. Looking back, it was absolutely the right decision for me.

For anyone considering their next steps, both university and degree apprenticeships can lead to successful careers — ultimately, it is down to the individual. Degree apprenticeships offer some unique advantages, including valuable industry experience, earning a salary, and graduating without student debt. Thanks to the experience gained through my apprenticeship, I am on track to achieve professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer before the end of this year. Without the four and a half years of industry experience gained during my apprenticeship, this would not have been possible, and professional registration is a crucial step in developing a career in engineering.