Taylor Wilson
Engineering
“Being able to work, gain practical experience and study at the same time has given me a really strong foundation to continue building my career in engineering.”
Balancing a Modern Apprenticeship and studying part-time at NESCol was no easy task, but Taylor’s dedication and hard work earned her special recognition at Fraserburgh Graduation.
After leaving school, 21-year-old Taylor Wilson from Peterhead started a Modern Apprenticeship in Mechanical Manufacturing (Fitting & Assembly) with Score Group.
Alongside her apprenticeship, Taylor completed an SVQ before progressing to the HNC Mechanical Engineering course at NESCol in 2024.
She said, “I studied my HNC part-time through day release, so I was able to balance College work with practical experience at Score.”
Studying and working in engineering
Taylor was fully supported by both Score and NESCol, which allowed her to make the most out of every learning opportunity.
She said, “The lecturers have always been approachable and willing to help when I’ve needed it. Having that sort of support has made a big difference to me, especially juggling College coursework and deadlines with my job.
“My work has complemented my studies well because I’m able to see the engineering principles I’m learning about being applied in a real working environment.
“My practical experience has then also helped me understand some of the College work better because I can relate it back to things I’ve actually worked on.
“Having that mixture of theory and practical works well for me, as I find seeing both sides helps me learn.”
Next steps
Taylor graduated at Fraserburgh Campus in September 2026, where she was delighted to find out she had won the HNC Mechanical Engineering Award, sponsored by Score.
She said, “Completing my HNC and graduating was one of the biggest highlights for me – especially being recognised with an award for my studies.
“It was a really proud moment and something that made all the hard work feel worthwhile.”
Taylor’s learning journey is far from over. She is now working towards her HND at NESCol and has ambitions to progress to university.
She said, “I’d like to continue developing my career in engineering as well as building on both my practical experience and qualifications. I’d eventually like to progress to a degree and continue growing within the industry.”
Taylor’s advice
The mix of real workplace experience with College learning suited Taylor. Her advice is to other students is: “Don’t be afraid to give it a go, even if you’re not completely sure what you want to do.”
She explained, “College can give you the opportunity to gain qualifications while also developing practical skills and meeting people who can help you along the way. If you’re doing an apprenticeship alongside it, it can be hard at times to balance everything, but it’s definitely worth it.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through both NESCol and Score Group. Being able to work, gain practical experience and study at the same time has given me a really strong foundation to continue building my career in engineering.”
Study part-time at NESCol
Alongside our online and distance learning courses, we offer a range of professional development courses delivered on campus, including part-time HNC and HNDs.