This job saw me fulfilling a number of different roles. Much of my time was spent moving stock around and performing Quality Control checks on a range of different products. At other times I was helping to pack and wrap pallets or unload container trucks.

I also spent time picking stock for orders, and working on production orders where two or three different items are combined together in order to make a different product.

I had been working as an assistant mechanic, although at times I also help out with other roles. Primarily I was at the garage to learn mechanics and to help out with what I could where I could. This was a great opportunity for me because I have an interest in classic cars and feel I can now maintain them myself.

This position allowed me to expand my knowledge by learning new things and was constantly producing new challenges. It has given me the opportunity to work as part of a team and to work independently using my own initiative. I could have be servicing a car one minute changing the oil, air filters and wiper blades and then the next minute I could be helping to strip down an engine or stripping out a cars interior for MOT repairs.

I enjoyed the versatility the job offered; no two days were ever the same. I like the fact I can learn new skills like changing brakes then turn my hand to something totally different like running a diagnostic check to find faults with the cars.

I have had the opportunity to work with AFM Website Design on unpaid work experience. They have given me the opportunity to design and produce a website for a client under their supervision. By working with AFM I have greater insight into what is required from a website, not just from the clients themselves but legally.

Whilst working with AFM I have had to talk with the client, a talented young actress called April Kelley. April contacted AFM wanting a cheap website produced that would help her finance her college tuition. Having had this meeting with April I then had to come up with a selection of potential website designs that would suit her needs and requirements. I have then taken Aprils chosen design and produced a working coded version using a combination of HTML and CSS.

Aprils website has also been optimised for search engines and has been made accessible so that anyone with a disability or poor vision is able to adjust the website to better suit their needs. These are both areas of web design I had not known that much about before I was given this opportunity.

The website I created with AFM is now live www.aprilkelley.org.uk and in the source code I am credited for the website design. Currently if you look at the AFM client portfolio on their website they have a link to April's website and a small description next to it which reads

"We had a very keen young man called Ben Woolner contact us after a job as a trainee web designer. We have a full staff but wanted to do a project with him. April Kelley is a talented young actress who wanted a website to help her finance her college tuition but had limited funds.

Ben designed and coded this website and April helped by providing ideas and graphics. We supervised the project and the result is a very eye catching website. It also has a content management system to enable April to edit her pages and keep her costs to a minimum."

Unit 1 Raynham Close, Raynham Road Industrial Estate, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 5PL
www.firstsignsandlabels.co.uk

This position was a great opportunity to work as a part of a team. The experience was also beneficial as it gave me an insight into how an organisation works and just how crucial meeting a deadline is.

I also learned how important it is to work closely with you client. I say this because at the last minute as we were finalising a design with the client, ready for printing, the client asked us to change the design slightly.

As an Assistant Sign Technician I helped to design, prepare and apply vinyl sign writing for a company’s van.

I also helped with the engraving of plastic signs and with the screen printing process.