Three apprentices at JB Engineering (Hatton) Ltd have received positive feedback from their college after successfully designing and manufacturing a portable BBQ grill prototype as part of a college project unit. The project brief required the apprentices to design and make a product outside their usual work-based activities, while still demonstrating practical engineering skills. The team selected a BBQ grill as it allowed them to combine creativity with real-world fabrication processes, including CAD design, laser cutting, press braking, and assembly.
After researching existing BBQ designs, the apprentices collaborated on initial concepts before agreeing on a final design that could be realistically manufactured. Responsibilities were shared across the project, with each apprentice leading on a key stage of the build before coming together to assemble the finished prototype.
Hayden, who led on CAD design, said:
“The biggest challenge was making sure everything aligned properly, especially folded parts and hinges. It really pushed us to think carefully about design accuracy and how components work together.”
Charlie, responsible for laser cutting, added:
“Preparing the files and cutting the parts showed how important attention to detail is. Even small adjustments made a big difference to how well everything fitted together.”
James, who carried out the press braking, commented:
“Some parts needed minor tweaks during forming, but working as a team meant we could quickly solve problems and improve the final result.”
Throughout the build, the apprentices worked closely together to overcome challenges, making adjustments where necessary and applying the teamwork skills they have developed during their apprenticeship at JB Engineering. College tutors praised the project’s overall design, build quality, and collaborative approach, noting that any minor flaws were expected as part of the prototyping and learning process.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, the apprentices agreed it had helped strengthen their CAD, manufacturing, and communication skills, while giving them confidence to take on more complex engineering work in the future. The BBQ grill project highlights the value of apprenticeship training at JB Engineering—bridging classroom learning with practical, real-world fabrication experience.