What would life be like in a profession where you are at the centre of operating, maintaining and improving one of the most advanced road networks in North Yorkshire?
You might just be about to find out! Do you want to help keep the County of North Yorkshire moving? Whatever your age, whatever your background, an apprenticeship could help you build a career with us.
Take on a fulfilling role, earn a salary, gain practical work experience with training and achieve professional qualifications - all at the same time. You have the opportunity to build your future career with NY Highways in our Fleet, Operative and Street Lighting divisions.
We believe in supporting our community and promoting the future generation to grow with transferable skills and qualifications. We believe and invest in our team by rewarding our apprentices with a national living wage, not the minimum.
NY Highways has formed a bold apprenticeship plan to include:
- Setting ambitious minimum targets for apprentices in our first year,
- Paying a living wage, not minimum wage, to show we are investing in our talent setting the foundations for a career with NY Highways,
- Promoting career grades where possible, so there’s no obvious ceiling to a new entrant,
- Investing in the best training, demonstrably rewarding development that engages the individual in real life exercises transferable to day-to-day NY Highways activity,
- Learning best practice from those such as the Fire Service in how best to promote equality in a physically demanding position,
- Learning from existing and progressing apprentices in how best to engage, nurture and foster trust so that we retain our apprentices.
Jamie Keech, is a Fleet Apprentice based at NY Highways’ Pickering workshop. In December 2025 he was awarded East Riding College’s Apprentice of the Year in the Scarborough and Bridlington Motor Vehicle category.
To celebrate his achievement, we spoke with Jamie about the award and what inspires him to keep pushing forward:
What inspired you to pursue a career in vehicle mechanics and how did you first get involved with NY Highways’ apprenticeship programme?
I really enjoy learning about how vehicles work and I have been lifelong friends with Josh Thompson, who works on the NY Highways Fleet team. I saw the opportunity and decided to apply – and here I am!
I was already doing an apprenticeship elsewhere, so I joined NY Highways at Level 3 due to my previous experience. The transition was smooth as I understood the principles and had support from the team.
What does winning the Apprentice of the Year award mean to you personally?
Steve Bowe (Fleet Manager) had noticed the award and thought I should apply – Josh Dale, my manager and Workshop Controller for Pickering, applied on my behalf.
When I received the email to say I had won, I was shocked! There were so many candidates that I didn’t think I would be successful, so it was a lovely surprise, and I’m really pleased that all the hard work has paid off.
Have you come across anything challenging during your apprenticeship so far, and how did you overcome it?
At first, there was a lot to get my head around when it came to vehicle inspections. I asked plenty of questions and, with support from the team, I soon got used to it and grew in confidence.
Have you got a project or task you’re most proud of during your training?
I’ve enjoyed everything so far and get a lot of job satisfaction. One of my proudest moments was when we were fitting gritter bodies onto QCB vehicles – I was able to identify and resolve issues on my own, which really demonstrated my problem-solving skills.
I also volunteered during the large-scale operation at the Langdale and Fylingdales moorland fire in August 2025. After completing my normal shift, I stayed back to help move vehicles between depots, making sure resources were in the right place at the right time. I didn’t get home until nearly 10pm, but I was just glad I could help.
How do you balance learning at college with hands-on experience in the workplace?
It’s really interesting to combine the processes and principles learned at college with the practical experience at work – the styles of learning are very different. However, the theory from college helps me diagnose issues and find solutions in the workshop.
How has your confidence grown since beginning your apprenticeship?
A lot! At first I was asking lots of questions and always checking with senior staff because I was nervous about getting something wrong. After about a year, my work was only being checked at the end of each task, and my confidence has now grown to the point where I can work independently much more often.
I couldn’t have done this without the support of the team. For example, Dan Thompson (a chargehand at Pickering) was a great help in making sure I balanced my college work with practical tasks. The whole team has been so welcoming, and after only a week I felt like an integral part of the team rather than just a number.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I see my future with NY Highways – I hope to work my way up the ladder at the workshop. I like to get my hands dirty so I don’t think I’m ready for an office job! It would be great to be a chargehand or perhaps even an apprentice trainer.
What advice would you give to someone considering a motor vehicle apprenticeship?
Be prepared to be curious and ask lots of questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. You must be a team player and open to learning new skills.
If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships at NY Highways, go to the Careers page to find the details of how to access our vacancies.