You're Hired!

Jamie’s apprenticeship involved attending the award winning Bridgend College for eight weeks of the year to study theory and the rest of the time working in a plant maintenance environment.  In year three, Quattro became his sponsor and Jamie joined the team as an apprentice working under Foreman Tony Walters.  Tony recalls,

‘He came to us as a Level 2 in his NVQ.  He knocked on the Quattro door and walked in. Here was somebody who was interested; with a couple of years under his belt he was already modifying his car and capable of using spanners.  He’s keen and he had his own tools; we liked that.’

Jamie’s course covered a wide range of plant skills from diagnosing machines to health and safety to servicing, repairing, and using the finding fault tools on computer diagnostics.  He has now joined the team at Cwmbran and is enjoying the daily challenges:

‘I’m happy that the four years are finished with and I can go to work every day.  I would hate to have a job where I’m sitting behind a desk in an office.  I love doing something different, especially if it’s a big repair.  It’s so challenging and I’m fascinated by the Komatsu and Doosan RRVs.’

Foreman Tony Walters emphasises how Jamie is already making a positive impression both in the depot and with Network Rail.

‘Jamie is good as gold and fits in well.  He’s a cheeky little bugger sometimes, but that’s great, he can look after himself.  He has been going out on shifts and he had his first breakdown recently in the middle of Cardiff Station and he sorted it.  We have had some glowing reports about him from Network Rail.'

Moving forward, Foreman Tony Walters sees great prospects ahead.

‘At the moment he’s still yard based but we’ve got a new fleet of fitters vans coming at the end of this year so the goal is he will have his own van and become a mobile fitter.’

Qualified Plant Fitter Jamie Powles favourites:

Music: Nathan Dawe

Pizza topping: Chicken, bacon, BBQ

Crisp flavour:  Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream Kettle Chips

Dinner:  Any take away

Drink: Thatcher’s Cider

Spare time:  Drive around in Audi S3. ‘It’s not that flashy!  It’s not paid off yet!’

TV:  Family Guy

Quattro’s newest qualified Plant Fitter celebrated his result with a Chinese takeaway and some drinks with his mates.

‘The job is great, to be fair, I like it. Quattro is really professional.  My Foreman looks after me, I feel like we’ve got a good relationship.  Now that I’m qualified it feels great. Thanks to Quattro and Tony for giving me the opportunity.’  A conscientious Jamie added, ‘I must get on, the boss has left me some tidying up to do…’  

John Murphy, Quattro MD

‘Well done Jamie.  A tidy work area reduces accidents and improves fire safety, an essential learning of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Plant Maintenance, a qualification that you have more than mastered!  Congratulations and welcome aboard the Q-Army.  It sounds like we’re lucky to have you!’