My Engineering Apprenticeship - Ian Mence

My Dowty Apprentice Story

I started at Dowty as a commercial apprentice in 1973 and did ONC and HNC Business studies at Gloscat.

I completed my apprenticeship in 1977 and started as a Planner in the Planning Office at Dowty Fuel Systems, then as a Section Leader, then as a Project Manager, moving to Dowty Rotol as a Project Manager in 1987.c

In 1990, I then started at Dowty Magnetics as a Project Manager and then later became Operations Manager.

Dowty Magnetics was sold by TI to Ultra Electronics and in 1998,  I became Managing Director of Ultra Electronics Magnetics Division.

The apprenticeship and all the experience working in the Dowty Group gave me the experience to become MD and I am proud of the fact, that a humble 16 year old apprentice made it that far.

In 2004 I left the group and pursued a career elsewhere but had my 30-year final salary pension to take and enjoy when I turned 58 years old, which I did in 2015.

The Dowty Apprenticeships were the best in the area back in the day and I think the intake was in the order of 100 plus, of craft, student, commercial and graduate apprentices.

Great days.

Ian Mence