Grace Draper

Best of both worlds on a Rolls-Royce apprenticeship

At the age of 16, Grace Draper decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce rather than go on to do A-levels. She’s not looked back since.

She has excelled while gaining on-the-job experience with the company and during her training at Derby College, where she has achieved Distinction standards. Now she is set to take her qualifications further with a foundation degree at the College, sponsored by Rolls-Royce.

Such has been Grace’s success that she was highly commended in the Manufacturing and Engineering Apprenticeship category of our 2014 Peak Awards. Judges described her as a ‘model learner’ and praised her collaborative work on projects, where she demonstrated the team skills and personal attributes which are vital in today’s engineering industry.

An apprenticeship at Rolls- Royce is the best of both worlds. We get to work in all sorts of areas of the company, earning while we’re learning. Having completed my first two years of the apprenticeship, I’m looking forward to starting the foundation degree.