Building for what's next: pick a skill that can secure your future

Corey Gilks, Electrical Maintenance Supervisor at wienerberger UK & Ireland shares insight on his engineering journey at wienerberger UK & Ireland.

Corey Gilks was just finishing school and considering which career path to take when his Dad, who works at wienerberger, suggested he explored a career in Electrical Engineering. Fascinated by the opportunity and eager to learn a new trade, Corey took the first step towards his future by enrolling for an Apprenticeship Programme. 

Eventually, the skills and experience Corey gained during his apprenticeship opened the door to an exciting opportunity, and in 2021 he joined wienerberger, where he continues to build on his experience and develop the skills that will support a long-term career.

“When my Dad, who is a Mechanical Engineer at wienerberger, recommended a career in Electrical Engineering, I thought I’d give it a go. I’ve been with wienerberger for five years now and so far, I’m enjoying it. In my first four years, I was working as a Maintenance Engineer, and just about a year ago, I was promoted to a Maintenance Supervisor.”

Today, Corey is an Electrical Maintenance Supervisor at wienerberger, Kingsbury factory, where he leads a team of engineers who work behind the scenes to keep the site's machinery running smoothly and efficiently. Their role is very important to the business as they support the production of high-quality bricks and pavers for our customers across the UK and Ireland. 

“I currently manage a group of four young engineers, planning our daily tasks and making sure machine servicing, project works and everything on our plate is up to date. My favourite thing about the role is being able to work as a team. We are all a group of lads, and we get on really well. We’ve been very busy today working on the pulp filler and filter press to fully optimize it for production.”

Looking back on his journey, Corey considers stepping into a supervisory role at an early stage in his career to be one of his greatest achievements, giving him the opportunity to lead and support other engineers. 

“One thing I’ve achieved that’s helped me grow in my role is becoming a supervisor. Being so young, I didn’t think I had a chance, but here I am doing well at the job. Although I’m still new to the supervisor role, it’s a good job and I’m loving every bit of it.”

Having gone from uncertainty about his future career to building and leading an engineering team, Corey believes that staying calm and confident has been key to his success. These qualities continue to help him lead by example and support those around him every day. 

“One skill you can’t do without in this role is confidence in your work and the ability to stay calm under pressure. I’ve got two young children, so I share my time between work and family life. To be honest, becoming a father has taught me patience too, and that’s a skill I also bring into my role as a supervisor. Work can be hectic at times, but you’ve got to stay calm, take your time and work through each task as a team while always bringing your A-game.” 

Having benefited from the guidance of an experienced engineer early in his career, Corey is passionate about encouraging young people to explore opportunities in skilled trades. His advice is simple: pick a skill to secure your future.

“If you’re looking to join the electrical industry, I’d highly recommend it. I started straight from school and went to college. With the way technology is going, you’ve got a secure future as an engineer and you’ll never be out of work.” 

If you're looking to start a career in engineering, explore our apprenticeship opportunities available across different locations and take the first step towards a rewarding future.