As a 17 year old apprentice, I began my engineering journey with BP and when I reflect on those early days of my career, one thing that stands out was the first time I operated a lathe. The swarf, the speed of the chuck and the concentration required to ensure accurate machining all seemed a bit too much at first.
I remember my apprentice trainer (Dai Davies) telling me: “Confidence builds competence.” At the time, I wasn’t sure how true that was—but he was absolutely right. The more I practiced, the more comfortable I became. At first, every movement felt uncertain, every adjustment nerve-wracking. But with repetition, I gained confidence, and over time operating the lathe became far less ‘scary’.. I still look back with pride when I see the hand tools I made and the memories of cutting left handed threads, knurling and offset turning on a four-jaw chuck etc..
The idea that confidence builds competence is often discussed in psychology and personal development. It’s part of what’s known as the Confidence-Competence Loop; a cycle where gaining competence in a skill boosts confidence, and that confidence encourages further skill development.
While competence is typically built through practice and experience, confidence can help accelerate the process. When you believe in yourself, you’re more likely to push through challenges, and persist in learning—leading to greater competence over time. However, confidence alone isn’t enough; it must be backed by actual skill development and practical application on a frequent basis.
At Zulu, we pride ourselves on devoting a significant amount of time with engineering apprentices at our Centre of Excellence – hands on learning and practical experience cannot be replaced by classroom theory. The experience allows apprentices to become familiar with their respective tasks, it promotes and encourages critical thinking, which is essential in engineering.
By engaging directly with our experienced mentors, apprentices gain insights that go beyond textbooks and theoretical instruction. They develop skills, appreciate the science behind making bolted connections, build confidence in handling torque equipment and an appreciation for the nuances of precision engineering – all required to safely assemble a bolted flange joint.
This hands-on approach fosters a learning environment where apprentices can experiment, refine techniques, and build resilience when faced with challenges. Real-world exposure ensures that they not only understand the principles of their trade but also feel prepared to apply them effectively in their future careers.
In supporting this confidence-competence loop, in the coming weeks we will be connecting with both current and prospective clients and further education establishments within south Wales to explore mechanical joint integrity training packages. Our goal is to provide hands-on support, working closely to facilitate engineering apprentices by visiting our Centre of Excellence. Here, they will gain valuable practical experience while earning industry-recognised joint integrity qualifications and certification.
Engineering apprentices play a vital role in the future of our process industries, making it essential that they develop the right skills and competencies to succeed.
For anyone starting out in their career, whatever it may be; keep practicing, keep learning, and confidence will follow.
Chris Mellows, Managing Director
Zulu Joint Integrity & Training Ltd
Contact our apprenticeship training team for further details;
Tel: 01656 523273 email:info@zulujointintegrity.co.uk