Combining computers and design has led Ben Allen to the ideal job.
The 20-year-old is a process draughtsman at Transfield Worley in New Plymouth four days a week, and a student at WITT one day a week.
On the job he is now training to be a competent designer of structural components and pipes, mostly for the oil and gas industry.
Ben is working towards a Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical), which he began in 2009 as a full-time student.
He chose that path instead of going into Year 13 at Francis Douglas Memorial College because he was ready to leave school and take charge of his own education. “It’s all up to me if I study at polytech, whereas at school it’s ruled by teachers.”
But school did set him up for the future. In Year 12, he was first in class for metal technology and also enjoyed information technology.
“I knew I wanted to be working on computers and designing,” he says. “I find computers easy to work on. Engineering and computing go hand in hand.”
Part of his job involves using AutoCAD, a computer drafting programme he learnt at WITT.
Many aspects of the diploma course are preparing him well for the engineering industry. “I thought that the thermodynamics, which is about heat transfer and heat in pipes, was particularly relevant and interesting, especially in my field because I’m drafting for the process engineers.”
Ben started working at Transfield Worley in February last year. “Every semester I have done two or three papers.”
He hopes to graduate in the middle of next year.
Another bonus about studying in New Plymouth is that for the first two years he was able to live at home, which meant he has ended up with “having bugger all student loan”.
Once he’s finished his diploma, Ben wants to continue working and progressing at Transfield Worley, possibly even working overseas. “My company is all over the world and there are opportunities to be transferred.”