Five minutes with Imran Lulat, Apprentice of the Year 2018

Imran Lulat is a Lead Engineer within Exteriors Systems at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR); he aims to become a chartered engineer. In 2018, Imran was awarded IMechE's Apprentice of the Year award.

We recently caught up with Imran to reflect on that experience and asked him how being part of the IMechE awards process has impacted his career.

Q: You were awarded Apprentice of the Year 2018, tell us about that experience.

Imran Lulat (IL): It was humbling being the recipient of the award, especially being recognised by the team at JLR, who put me forward for the award.

The experience of collecting the award was great, I was invited to IMechE’s headquarters in London along with two guests: I brought along my training manager and the apprentice manager at JLR. There was an awards ceremony focusing on the achievements of young engineers at university and in the industry, where we were presented with our awards by the then President, Tony Roche.

There was also an opportunity to network with one another which was inspiring, as I got to hear the contribution my fellow young engineers have made to the engineering sector, the industry, and the wider economy.

Q: How has your career progressed since you won the award?

IL: At the time of winning the award, I was a 6th year apprentice and was completing placements as per my development plan. Since then, I have completed my apprenticeship, helped launch the Jaguar XE 20MY, something I am very proud of, and now work as a Lead Engineer within Exteriors Systems at Jaguar Land Rover.

I am responsible for the delivery of a system from concept through to production. My job role is massively varied as I am involved in every stage of the development process; from working with the designers in the design studio through to working with the operators on the assembly line. No two days are the same! I enjoy what I do and the experience I gained during my apprenticeship has proved invaluable in my career progression, so to receive the IMechE award is a highly regarded recognition of that.

Q: Were you nominated by a sponsor, or did you nominate yourself?

IL: I was put forward for the award by my training manager, who based this on my performance both at work and at university.

Q: Any tips on the application process?

IL: The application process was simple and intuitive; it consists of writing a statement on why the apprentice should win the award. Try not to only focus on the achievements at work and university, but also charity and voluntary work. I spoke about my role as a STEM ambassador; in this role I have been privileged to teach students about engineering, manufacturing, and the various avenues into engineering, including apprenticeships.

Q: You were awarded a £1500 educational grant, what did you put this towards?

IL: I have not used the grant yet because I am very fortunate to work at JLR where I have my training and fees paid for by the company. However, one qualification that interests me is the PRINCE2 project management qualification, and I intend to use my grant towards that. Although I am an engineer, the qualification complements my job role as a large part of it encompasses project management. The qualification is recognised globally, the learning will aid in my existing job role and will also help in my future career.

Q: What would you say to an apprentice who is thinking about applying for this or any of our awards?

IL: Just go for it! Even if you do not have a sponsor, its fine – apprentices are more than welcome to nominate themselves. The IMechE also shows recognition to runners up and is highly commendable. The benefits are great, firstly it shows your employer the contribution you have made and the recognition you deserve. It is something to put on your CV and will help as part of your future development. Most importantly, the IMechE awards educational grants to the winner, this can be used towards learning new skills, developing existing skills or gaining a new qualification.

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