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Today is the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 – a week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is “Skills For Life”. This reflects the potential of apprenticeships to equip apprentices with not just job-specific skills, but also a broader set of competencies that develop longer term resilience and adaptability.

DriveWorks employs a degree apprentice, Joseph Chadwick, who is studying a BSc degree apprenticeship in Digital & Technology Solutions atManchester Metropolitan University (MMU). Joseph combines working in the Development team at DriveWorks with one day each week spent in lectures at MMU.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Joseph is returning to his high school to present to students about his experience as an apprentice and how they could follow a similar path.

Apprenticeships at DriveWorks – From An Apprentice’s Perspective

Im getting to apply the experience I gained from programming games as a hobby to develop professional software for real-world design automation solutions.

Because DriveWorks has a graduate scheme, there are other students working in the business too. I get the best of both worlds as Im meeting new people at work and at university and because Im earning my own money, I can do social stuff with both groups.

I like the DriveWorks products and the technology, I like the people and I like the coffee!

Joseph Chadwick – DriveWorks Degree Apprentice

Apprenticeships at DriveWorks – From An Employer’s Perspective

For us degree apprenticeships are a win-win.

Theres obviously a funding benefit element to it, but its so much more than that. Were creating a pipeline for talent by recruiting high-calibre future managerswho are more likely to want to stay with DriveWorks after theyve graduated.

As Joseph progresses with his degree course hell be able toshare fresh ideas and new ways of thinkingwith his DriveWorks colleagues. And in terms of positive impact on the wider team, weve already seen a halo effect in thedevelopment of other team members who are working alongside him.

Maria Sarkar – DriveWorks Co-Founder

DriveWorks has a long history of supporting young people.Our support for young people covers:

  • introducing careers into STEM subjects at school
  • work experience placements for Year 10 & 11 students
  • a successful university placement programme for students in their 3rdyear at university
  • delivering guest university lectures on careers in engineering and computing
  • a certification programme for students to learn about automation

We’re Hiring for Our Next Apprentice

As we’ve already seen such great success with our first apprentice, we are have opened up another apprenticeship opportunity in our team and are now hiring for an IT Apprentice.

This is an entry level role for someone wanting to get started in their IT career. Full training and support will be provided.
Technology is at the heart of our business, and our people are our greatest asset. This role is an exciting opportunity to learn and grow in a dynamic, supportive, and innovative working environment. Youll be in good company as our people are industry experts, and we love to share our knowledge!

This is a permanent role and includes an 18-month Level 3 Information Communications Technician apprenticeship qualification provided by Warrington and Vale College or St Helens College.

Learn more and apply here.

National Apprenticeship Week Resources

This National Apprenticeship week, Careers Live are working with schools, colleges, teachers, students, employers, parents and apprentices to make the NAW week a huge success.

Each day they are hosting live broadcasts and interactive chats with apprentices from a range of companies. They have also provided downloadable reources and useful guides for anyone interested in learning more about apprenticeships, and starting the application process.

Featured Blog

Want to learn more about apprenticeships?

The apprenticeship system in the UK has undergone considerable change and development over recent years, however, a lingering stigma around apprenticeships still exists.

In the blog, we explore the reasons behind this and look at what can be done to break the stigma.

Were celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2023 by recognizing some of the outstanding people in the engineering space, sharing how they have been influenced into a career in STEM, and highlighting the types of roles available.

Historically, STEM fields have been male-dominated. Progress has been made to expand the opportunities within STEM for women, although there are still societal challenges that remain including equal opportunities, gender pay gaps, discrimination, and workplace attitudes.

Efforts to propel women into engineering and other STEM fields are transforming the careers of today, with the latest statistics outlining the current climate of women in engineering jobs:

  • Women make up 16.5% of all engineers, compared to 10.5% reported in 2010. This represents a 6 percentage point increase in the proportion of women in the engineering workforce.
  • The actual number of women working in engineering roles also increased from 562,000 in 2010 to 936,000 in 2021.
  • The increase in number of women in engineering roles continued to rise when the total number of people working in engineering fell in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Young women should be empowered and encouraged to pursue any interests they have in engineering and be a part of these numbers rising even more in the future. Through education, mentorship, great examples & role models, and inclusive opportunities, women can pave larger paths into the future of engineering.

As a technology company that develops for engineers, employs engineers of all genders, and is co-founded by a female, it’s important we can inspire young women and be part of the development for females in the industry.

Im proud to be a female co-founder and leader of an award-winning tech business today. Our business thrives on having a unique blend of people, personalities, and talents. We believe there should be no barriers to achievement and the more we can all raise awareness of opportunities and equality, the better.

Maria Sarkar

Co Founder & VP, DriveWorks

Celebrating Some of the Inspiring Women in Our Community

We have interviewed many inspiring women in the engineering space in recent years, with many talking about where their initial interest in STEM ‘stems’ from, and how it has influenced their career. Here’s a look at just some of the amazing individuals who have a story to tell. They have also shared some advice on what they would tell young women who are considering pursuing a career in STEM.

A photo of Tracy Wettig.

Tracey Wettig

Mid-Atlantic Technical Manager, TriMech

“In fourth grade, during math lessons, my teacher would send me and three other boys out into the hallway to work on that days math homework. Contrary to how it initially sounds, this wasnt a punishment. My teacher identified us four nine-year-olds as being so strong in the current math lessons, that we were rewarded with unsupervised hallway study as she conducted her lessons with the rest of the students inside the classroom.”

“This small action was the most impactful to me because it indirectly said Youre good at this, I trust you. In subsequent years, I found myself gravitating towards any subject with an equation in hopes there was a secret similar hallway policy with other teachers. Sadly there wasnt, but the outcome was a young woman who ended up strong, comfortable, and curious in STEM.”

“As each year passes, the STEM culture continues to grow more aware and welcoming of the increase of women in the ranks. Your value and contributions are wanted and needed now more than ever.”

A photo of Christine Miska.

Christine Miska

CEMA Business Area Engineering Director, BAE Systems

“I had the opportunity to help my dad with his work as an electrician when I was a kid. He is the best problem-solver I know. Spending time with him inspired my curiosity and passion for finding solutions to complex problems, which led me to become an electrical engineer. I love working on challenging advanced technologies with a very important purpose.”

“My job is never boring. It is inspiring to know that the systems I work on keep our war fighters safe.”

“Not only is STEM a lot of fun, it is a high paying career where women are in high demand. An engineering career gives me the job flexibility to balance my work, my family and my volunteer work.”

“If you dont know much about STEM careers, reach out to an engineer like me and learn more about the opportunities that are waiting for you. It is important to get out of your comfort zone to grow and achieve great things.”

“Be bold and try new things!”

A photo of Julie Stears.

Julie Stears

Chief Engineer- Engineering Quality, Jaguar Land Rover

“My Dad was always working on cars and building things and I was lucky enough that we would spend weekends on projects. My favourite was converting a single-decker bus into our family camper van! Anything that needed building, we built together!”

“STEM careers have never been so exciting, technology is moving on exponentially and there is no shortage of opportunities. Technology is never out of fashion and the opportunity to innovate always exists. STEM careers consisting of dirty hands & overalls are long gone.”

A picture of Simone van Kempen

Simone van Kempen

Owner & Engineer, ConfiCreate

“In high school, I really liked science, physics, and especially maths. Solving equations was my favorite thing to do. I wasnt exactly sure what I liked, so I went to some trial study days. Mechanical engineering appealed to me the most, as I could also design custom products.”

“To young girls considering STEM careers, I would say: go for it!
I think that the campaigns for young girls getting involved in STEM are a good effort to make sure girls know that a career in STEM is an option for them to explore.”

DriveWorks Champions Education in STEM

TheCheshire and Warrington Pledge Partnership joins with employers to inspire, inform and communicate with the next generation of employees in Cheshire and Warrington. Businesses work together with educators to provide young people in the area with everything they need to succeed in the world of work.

Employers work directly with young people, teachers, parents, carers, and youth workers to provide employability-related skills and highlight the employment opportunities available.

Weve been working with the Pledge since the very beginning. Maria Sarkar, VP & Co-Founder at DriveWorks explains why supporting the Cheshire & Warrington Pledge is important to us.

Supporting young people and nurturing talent in the community is a core value of our business. Weve made Bridie from the DriveWorks team responsible for supporting the Pledge and have set aside time in her role to get involved in a variety of events and initiatives to help inspire the next generation. We are also delighted to be employer contributors to theCheshire & Warrington Digital Skills Board.

The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge logo.
A photo of Bridie with her award.

Were extremely proud that DriveWorks Community Engagement & Onboarding Manager, Bridie, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Pledge Celebration Event last year. Bridie works closely with the Pledge, our local Pledge Facilitator and local education to support young people in Cheshire & Warrington.

“Bridie has been an outstanding Enterprise Advisor and advocate of the Pledge since it began, originally working with Kings Leadership Academy, Warrington. Bridie has created opportunities for schools across Cheshire and Warrington and a multitude of students have benefited from this. Examples of this include VWEX, 5 days of Digital, the Digital Expo, languages in the workplace workshop plus a host of online events. In fact, it is difficult to think of a project or initiative that Bridie hasnt supported us with! Bridie is now also the Chair of the Warrington Management Group where she continues to drive careers development opportunities through employers. Her infectious positivity and drive to make every experience the best it can possibly be is the reason for this nomination.”

Trevor Langston, Pledge Lead.

Speaking about the importance of encouraging young women into STEM, especially from an education standpoint, Bridie explains:

“The workplace thrives on diversity and balance and encouraging young women to pursue careers in engineering is a cause close to our hearts at DriveWorks. We’re proud to support local schools with initiatives, such as ‘Girls in Computing’ to ensure that the future of the workforce is filled with diverse talent. Over the past 10 years, we have already seen an increase in the number of women in engineering roles in the UK and we look forward to seeing this grow even further over the next 10 years and beyond!”

Supporting Students in STEM

We have such an inspiring mix of talent at DriveWorks, with women taking their places across all teams. We have a record number of women working at the company currently, and we are committed to supporting the learning and development of everyone in our team.

We encourage graduates and students seeking placements to reach out to us regarding internships and job opportunities at DriveWorks. Chloe joined us last year as an intern and has told us about her experience since joining the company.

“DriveWorks has allowed me to nurture my skills and explore my passion for technology. From day one I’ve had the ability to earn certifications in areas I am passionate about, as well as tailored projects to develop my engineering and problem solving skills.”

“DriveWorks really cares about my passions and my development as an Engineer – I have the freedom to explore my interests whilst developing my technical skills required for my Applications Engineer role.”

“My time at DriveWorks has allowed me to develop my passion for programming further as well as hone in on my technical and problem-solving skills.”

“DriveWorks is a fantastic company that really cares about the growth and development of its people.”

Chloe has also accompanied Bridie to a careers event at a local high school, speaking with young people about her role as an engineer, encouraging and highlighting the types of roles available at a fast-growing technology company.

DriveWorks Placement Student Application Engineer, Chloe at a careers fayre with a 'join us' sign.

Are you interested in a career at DriveWorks? Join us!

Were always on the lookout for talented people to join our team.

Check out our career opportunities page to learn more about careers at DriveWorks.

 

International Women’s Day 2023

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on 8th March, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all around the world. International women’s day has been celebrated for well over a century, with the first one starting in 1911.

This day is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, and share stories of inspiring women.

We have such an inspiring mix of talent at DriveWorks, with women taking their places across all teams. We have a record number of women working at the company currently, and we are committed to supporting the learning and development of everyone in our team.

Maria Sarkar

Vice President & Co-Founder, DriveWorks

Today, on International Womens Day were taking a few moments to reflect on and celebrate womens roles and achievements.

As Vice President & Co-Founder of double Queens Award-winning software development company, DriveWorks Ltd., and probably the oldest member of our team I also bring the perspective of how much life has changed for women.

My grandmother left school at the age of 14. She had wanted to continue her education, but had no choice, her mother had died, and her father said she must go out to work.

As a child I liked staying at my grandparents’, the kitchen was always warm, and full of great smells!

Gran put tasty food on the table, gave great hugs and kept the family united. I also distinctly recall her interest in current affairs. She kept up to date by reading the daily newspaper. She especially loved the business pages, she followed the stock market.

She encouraged me to be inquisitive, to be a good student, interested in commerce and in her words to give yourself choices.

Taking advantage of access to education was also reinforced from conversations with my dad. Hed come to the UK after the war to study printing and graphic arts. He managed a photo-lithography business.

My mum worked in the business too and I used to go to the works, after school and at weekends. I swept floors, used an ancient adding machine to total up columns and columns of numbers, went out on deliveries and always kept an eye on the white job tickets and dockets that today I recognize as the precursors to todays Jira and Trello boards.

Dad was very interested in automation and new technologies. I remember a huge machine, a computer costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, being craned into a purpose-designed air-conditioned suite at the works. Ironically, the functionality it offered, can now be achieved using affordable photo-editing software that can be used by anyone! Technology is awesome!

So, super determined to continue my education, I packed my bags at 18 and embarked on a degree in Modern Languages. My studies took me to a new city, and I even spent my third year living in another country. What an experience that was, especially when at that time there were far fewer places for women at university.

My course gave me communication skills and life experiences so that by the time I graduated I knew my grandmother would be pleased to know that I had given myselfmore choices.

And remembering how the new technology introduced by my dad at the works heralded a new era for my parents and their staff, I have been excited to talk about and promote the adoption of new technology, CAD, 3D, digital transformation.

”Im proud to be a female Co-founder and leader of an award-winning tech business today. And while International Womens Day (IWD), is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all around the world, its also an opportunity to give a shout out to our entire DriveWorks Team. Our business thrives on having a unique blend of, people, personalities, and talents. We believe there should be no barriers to achievement and the more we can all raise awareness of opportunities and equality the better.”

Maria Sarkar

Co Founder & VP, DriveWorks

It’s also great to see how women in manufacturing and engineering are creating a space to talk and celebrate other women in these industries. Hosted by Meaghan Ziemba, Mavens of Manufacturing is a live podcast that focuses on women in manufacturing and how they are changing the world.

DriveWorks is a company committed to providing opportunities to everyone. 2023 marks a record number of employees at the company and we are proud that women are present on every team. From sales, marketing, technical, development, operations, and systems- women are encouraged to learn, explore technology, and apply knowledge.

Several members of our team give talks in schools, colleges, and universities.

Weve given Bridie, in her role as a Community Engagement & Onboarding Manager, dedicated time to work with our Local Enterprise Partnership and The Pledge, to promote careers in STEM.

Heather, our Brand & Community Ambassador, and Bridie are active worldwide in the SOLIDWORKS Community and are engaged hosts for DriveWorks Drivers and DriveWorks World.

Take a look at all of the talented women on the DriveWorks team…

Maria

Sharon

Jane

Jessica

Amie

Amy

Ann

Bridie

Cheryl

Chloe

Elise

Hannah

A photo of Heather from the DriveWorks sales team

Heather

Kerry

A photo of Lucy from the DriveWorks marketing team

Lucy

Mandy

Olivia

Paula

Rita

Sophie

Ruby

Were always on the lookout for talented people to join our team.

Check out our career opportunities page to learn more about careers at DriveWorks.

 

Welcoming Everyone Back

Weve always valued the importance of investing in new talent and supporting the future of digital.

Every year we take on new members across many of our teams and this year was no different.

Over the last 18 months, we have welcomed lots of new people to the DriveWorks team, as well as some of our previous placement students who have re-joined us as graduates.

Due to the pandemic, many of our new team members did not get a chance to meet the rest of the team in person until later in the year.

Whilst we still had daily team calls and weekly company show & tells, they missed out on the chance to get to know each other and the rest of the team outside of their day to day roles.

With restrictions lifting in England, we felt now was the perfect time to organise a Get Together morning of team building and fun activities for our latest recruits.

Get Together Morning With the DriveWorks Team

The morning started with a session on Get to Know DriveWorks which involved taking a closer look at the new DriveWorks Community, the DriveWorks Learning Portal, and our latest videos.

After a coffee break, it was time for the Get to Know Each Other part of the morning. This involved lots of different activities to promote team building and knowledge sharing.

Everyone was divided into groups of two and they were tasked with finding out further information about their partner to report back to the group.

The morning then took a friendly but competitive turn in the shape of the Lego replication game, a DriveWorks team favourite. In groups of six, it was DriveWorks vs DriveWorks, as the teams had to recreate a complex model.

The twist was that each member of the team was only allowed to look at the original model for one minute at a time. They then had to describe what theyd seen to their teammates to rebuild.

Both teams did exceptionally well and it was too difficult to crown a winner!

The competitiveness didnt stop there, as the morning ended with a DriveWorks trivia quiz.

We’re enjoying being together as a team at DriveWorks HQ again and looking forward to holding more team-building events over the coming months!

Join our team and kickstart your career

Were always on the lookout for talented people to join our team.

Find out more about working at DriveWorks and the types of roles we have available on ourCareers page.

What Were Looking For

Were looking for a bright, motivated, hard-working front-end web developer to join our enthusiastic team of developers, creatives, marketers, tech fanatics and engineers.

If you have a passion for your subject, a thirst for knowledge and want to work in a challenging and fun environment then you would make a great member of the DriveWorks team.

Your attitude, aptitude, and ability are all really important to us.

You will join the marketing team working closely with UX/designers to maintain and enhance the company websites. You will be involved in the full website lifecycle from brainstorming, requirements gathering, managing projects, website architecture, coding, testing, documentation, and ongoing maintenance.

Experience

The ideal candidate should be able to write clean, reusable code, and be keen to expand their skillset.

Technical capability, demonstrable experience, enthusiasm and integrating into our team well are all more important than the number of years.

Key Skills

  • Passionate about coding and front-end website development.
  • Able to code pixel-perfect designs from wireframes.
  • Able to solve challenging problems.
  • Excellent attention to detail, time management, and organisational skills.
  • Work in a collaborative team to share and workshop ideas to create systems that will improve the websites for content creators and customers.
  • Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment and to learn quickly.
  • Take initiative and go the extra mile to complete tasks within deadlines.
  • Keep up to date with new innovations and technologies and investigate how they can be applied.
  • Commercial experience using HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript ES6, and GIT
  • A working knowledge or exposure to SCSS, Typescript, Node.js, GULP, developing websites within the WordPress framework, and an interest in website performance, and accessibility.
  • Strong understanding of cross-browser compatibility, SEO principles and responsive web design.

About DriveWorks

Were an award-winning UK based software team with global sales. We develop internationally recognised Design Automation and 3D Product Configurator software, DriveWorks. Were committed to making our software the best in the world and making our company a great place to work.

We value our people and are committed to helping everyone develop and succeed. We get to know our team and find out whats important. We listen so we can improve work/life balance, our offices, our software, and the way we do things.

Training & Development

  • Personal development & training plan
  • Inspiring leadership
  • Contribute and make an impact

Environment

  • Modern offices & latest technology
  • Kitchen, Xbox & pool table
  • Fruit, refreshments & fresh coffee
  • Outdoor seating

Location

Were an office-based team in Thelwall, Cheshire, UK with home working flexibility.

  • Rural location – avoid city traffic
  • Easy access to M6, M56 & M62 motorways & bus routes
  • Plenty of free onsite parking

Learn more about our story, our culture and the way we do things.

Hours

37.5 hours per week, flexible working hours

Salary

Competitive salary and bonuses

How to Apply

If this sounds like the role for you, please send us your CV by email and be sure to tell us why youd be a great addition to our team.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Application Process

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Its important for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us. If we like what we see on your CV, well meet via web interview. If we think youre a good fit, and you like the sound of the role well invite you in for an on-site interview.

Closing Date

Monday, 16th August 2021

Were always on the lookout for talented people to join our team.

Take a look at the other vacancies we currently have in our team.

Even if were not currently advertising a role you would like, send us your CV or LinkedIn profile by email so we can chat! Be sure to tell us why youre interested and what you could do as a member of our team.