Bradley achieved an overall score of over 90% in his End Point Assessment, alongside distinctions across multiple methods, marking a significant milestone both for his career and for apprenticeship progression within Lavender International.
Bradley’s journey through the apprenticeship has been defined by hands on experience, technical development, and a growing understanding of the real world responsibility that comes with working in NDT. From inspecting components destined for critical infrastructure to ensuring safety in high risk environments, the role demands both precision and accountability.
Reflecting on his experience, Bradley described the apprenticeship as “challenging, rewarding, and interesting,” highlighting the balance between practical work and academic learning. One of the most defining moments came early in his training, when he narrowly failed a key Ultrasonic Testing (UT) assessment due to a minor but critical error.
“I questioned myself at the time and missed something I’d actually spotted. It was a small mistake, but it stuck with me. Passing it the second time felt like a real achievement and made me more confident in trusting my judgement.”
That experience, he explains, has shaped how he approaches inspections today – reinforcing the importance of attention to detail and confidence in decision making.
As the first apprentice with Lavender International to undertake ACFM, Bradley chose to specialise in ACFM due to its increasing relevance in industry projects and its value to Tru-Tec NDT. His achievement reflects both personal ambition and alignment with operational needs.
Despite the challenges of balancing workplace responsibilities with study and assessment requirements, particularly within a small, fast paced company environment, Bradley remained self motivated and committed throughout. His success demonstrates the impact of determination, as well as the importance of structured support and dedicated learning time during apprenticeships.
Looking ahead, Bradley is keen to continue developing his skillset, with ambitions to expand into additional advanced methods such as Eddy Current Testing, further strengthening both his own career prospects and the technical capability of Tru-Tec NDT.
When asked what advice he would give to others considering an apprenticeship, his response was clear:
“Do it. You’re gaining real world experience, learning valuable skills, and getting paid at the same time, without taking on debt. By the end of it, you’ve got qualifications and experience behind you. It’s a win win.”
Bradley’s success story highlights the value of apprenticeships as a powerful and practical route into skilled careers – particularly in specialist industries like NDT, where experience, precision, and responsibility are critical.
From learning technical skills to understanding the real responsibility behind NDT, Bradley’s journey reflects significant personal and professional growth.
“You start out just thinking it’s an apprenticeship,” he said. “But by the end, you realise the importance of what you’re doing – and that stays with you.”
A few words from Bradley’s apprenticeship tutor, Robert Whiston…
‘I would just like to say that as well as him being our first ever apprentice to sign up with Lavender International, he has proved to be 100% committed to the course going over and above to progress his understanding of NDT completing 2x complex methods UT & ACFM, as well as MPI outside of the apprenticeship at the same time.
I have always found Brad to be punctual, polite, and hardworking, he has put lots of effort and extra time in to ensure his apprenticeship was completed timely with great results around his busy workload. Bradley is also meticulous, ensuring all his work is of a high standard. Just some of the reasons why I awarded him the tutors choice award 2025!’
Tru-Tec NDT provides specialist Non-Destructive Testing services across a range of industries, supporting safety, compliance, and quality through advanced inspection techniques.
If you are looking to take on a new employee or up-skilling current staff then the Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship scheme allows for a structured training programme as well as offers government funding options that includes Level 2 certification within the programme.