Careers don’t all start the same way. Some of the strongest are built by learning on the job, gaining real experience and growing over time.

At iconsys, apprenticeships play a vital role at every stage of the business — from people just starting their careers to those now leading teams, shaping strategy and driving the organisation forward.

Rheon Paul, Ben Morris-Jones, Jack Evans and Matt Riddell are all at different points in their apprenticeship journeys, building capability, confidence and clear direction through hands-on engineering roles.

Rheon and Ben are currently completing electrical engineering apprenticeships, gaining experience across different parts of the business and developing a strong understanding of how projects, teams and systems come together. The variety of work and continuous learning opportunities have been central to their development so far.

Jack joined iconsys as an apprentice in 2021 and now works as a Junior Electrical Test Technician. Since completing his apprenticeship, he has continued to develop his technical skills and confidence, growing steadily within his role.

Matt began his apprenticeship in 2019 with the aim of combining formal learning with real-world experience. Over the past six years, he has progressed into a hardware design engineer role, developing specialist expertise and taking on increasing responsibility.

These early-career journeys sit alongside another important part of the story.

Across the business, several senior leaders also began their careers as apprentices. Edwin Derry, Director of Engineering & Innovation and Cliff Sedgley, Director of Production both started out that way and now hold leadership positions, shaping teams, strategy and the future direction of iconsys.

Jordan Tassell gained a wide range of skills and experience through his time as an engineering apprentice and is now Head of Sales for Marine & Ports, bringing deep technical understanding into a commercial role.

What connects all of these stories isn’t just time served, but the depth of understanding that comes from learning a business from the ground up. Apprenticeships provide exposure to different parts of the organisation, practical experience alongside formal learning, and the chance to build confidence early.

As Milissa Chesters MA HRM, FCIPD, Head of People and Culture, explains:

“Apprenticeships support continuous learning and progression, bringing fresh thinking into the business while creating genuine long-term career opportunities.

Seeing people like Matt, Jack, Rheon and Ben progress and grow reinforces the importance of investing in early careers and developing talent over the long term. It’s a proven and winning strategy to build the pipeline of best-in-class engineers to secure the future.”

From early careers to senior leadership, apprenticeships are not a single path or level at iconsys; they run throughout the organisation.

For anyone starting out today, the message is simple: where you begin doesn’t limit where you can go.