This week is Apprenticeship Week, a celebration of hands-on learning, curiosity, and the next generation of talent. At Sonardyne, apprenticeships aren’t just about gaining qualifications—they’re about rolling up your sleeves, tackling real challenges, and growing within a supportive team.

To mark the occasion, we’re sharing the stories of four of our apprentices, showcasing the roles they love, the skills they’re building, and why they chose to start their journey with us.

Apprenticeship roles at Sonardyne

At Sonardyne, we offer apprenticeships across a wide range of departments and roles, from accounts, facilities and facilities coordination, to digital marketing, production and manufacturing support, mechanical and test engineering, and customer support and service engineering.

These roles give apprentices a real insight into how different teams work together to design, build, support, and deliver our technology—while staying focused on their own area of expertise.

We believe in growing and nurturing our people, helping them understand the business as a whole and how their role fits into the bigger picture. Our apprentices tell us they chose Sonardyne to learn in a practical, hands-on way, earn while they learn, and build skills that really matter. Many were drawn to us through work experience, recommendations, or our reputation—and stayed because of the supportive culture, variety of work, and investment in their development.

By taking on new challenges and gradually more responsibility, apprentices grow their confidence and build a long-term career with us.

But enough about us, let’s hear from out apprentices:

“I chose an apprenticeship because I wanted to learn in a practical environment rather than through full-time study,” Kasia says. “Facilities management is a field where real-world experience is essential, so gaining skills on the job felt like the best route for me. The role is varied, practical, and people-focused, which fits my interests perfectly.”

Kasia was drawn to Sonardyne because of its strong reputation and supportive culture. “I’ve been with the company for over 14 years, and from the beginning it was clear that Sonardyne values development and invests in its people. Everyone has been willing to explain things and help me build my confidence.”

Reflecting on her experience so far, Kasia says, “I enjoy the variety of the role, and I feel I’m gaining valuable skills every week. It’s been encouraging to see my responsibilities grow gradually as I understand more about the business.” Looking ahead, she hopes to continue developing her career within the facilities team, building on her skills, taking on more responsibility, and contributing even more to the team.

Sophie’s passion for marketing grew from an early interest in business. “Since doing GCSE business at 13, I knew I enjoyed it, and by A-levels, I realised marketing was where I wanted to focus. When the digital marketing apprenticeship became available, it felt like the perfect opportunity.”

Sophie’s choice of Sonardyne was personal as well as practical. “I know people who work at Sonardyne and they have always spoken highly of the company. When I saw they offered a digital marketing apprenticeship, it was a no-brainer.”

Reflecting on her experience so far, Sophie says, “It’s been a whirlwind! I’ve worked on incredible projects, learning skills from project management to data analysis and event management—things that will be invaluable in my career.” Looking ahead, she plans to stay with Sonardyne to continue developing her skills and applying what she’s learned, while exploring new areas like Salesforce and website development.

Kathryn’s journey with Sonardyne began with a two-week work experience placement during her Level 3 BTEC in Engineering. “I was lucky to get a taste of the business early on, and being offered an apprenticeship after that was amazing,” she says.

Over the last seven and a half years, Kathryn has rotated through different departments, learning about products and processes across the business. “Everyone has been supportive and helped me build my confidence. I’ve gained knowledge from multiple perspectives—from machining to disassembly—which now benefits me in my role as a mechanical engineer in electro-mechanical design.”

Looking ahead, Kathryn is already settled in her chosen career path. “I’m planning to continue working on different projects and products, getting involved in investigations, and building on the skills I’ve learned throughout my apprenticeship. I’ve found my place here at Sonardyne, and I’m excited to keep growing in the role.”

Nia’s path into engineering was shaped at Alton College, where she discovered a love for the mechanical side of the subject. “When choosing my apprenticeship, I wanted to focus on mechanical engineering because that’s where my interests were,” she says.

Nia first came to Sonardyne through a two-week work experience placement during college. “I really enjoyed my time here, and when I was offered an apprenticeship, I was thrilled. The team was friendly, supportive, and always willing to teach me new skills.”

Reflecting on her journey, Nia says, “I’ve learnt so much and gained skills that will stay with me throughout my career.” Having completed her apprenticeship and earned her Level 4 HNC in Mechanical Engineering, she plans to stay with Sonardyne and explore a different department where she spent time during her apprenticeship.