Asset care planner, Ole Gunnar Bang, from Chemring Nobel in Norway, took the decision to go back to school to further his qualifications. Chemring supported his ambitions, and he’s now newly qualified and enjoying his new role.
Tell us a bit about your background and work with Chemring.
I am an asset care planner in the electrical department at Chemring Nobel. I started out as a domestic electrician and first worked here back in the 1990s when I was hired to do some work at the Saetre factory. I then left to work for another company and returned to Chemring in 2007.
How has Chemring supported your development?
I’ve just completed a two-year advanced diploma in electrical engineering. The company has supported me financially with my course, with the requirement that I stay with Chemring for at least three years. I initially spoke with the HR department about my goals and career development to determine the best course for me, as well as the course that would be of benefit to Chemring. I wanted to upskill my current electrical capabilities, with the added benefit of reducing the use of electrical contractors at Chemring.
In addition to supporting my career development, Chemring has facilitated my education by giving me flexible leave to attend classes, financial support for textbooks and hotel accommodation when required. I was supported in every potential way to help me excel in my course.
What would be your advice to others thinking of doing the same?
I would say that you should try to do it as early in your career as you can. The original course duration was two years, but in order to work full time at the facility and complete my studies in good time, I attended classes in the evenings and studied on the weekends so I could complete the course in three years.
With two small children and study away from home, it was certainly a challenge, but I considered it an investment in my future and very worthwhile. There were lots of things in the course that I recognised previously in my education or had been involved in at work. The course helped me consolidate my understanding a lot more about how things work. I also networked with a lot of friendly people studying to improve their professional qualifications too.
How was studying during the Covid pandemic?
We’ve done a lot virtually, but it was quite challenging to do the main assessments remotely. A lot of the work is done in a group, so it was hard arranging meetings and trying to get it all done online. We persisted though and got there in the end.