Multi-skilled engineer Review

On a daily basis we attend college in which we have tech days in a Monday that give us the skills we need to complete our level 3 MOET qualification at the end of the first year. This involves mechanical principles, electrical principles , engineering design as well as maths. On the filling days we complete various tasks in engineering which give us the basic skills to complete tasks at work and skills that we can develop on with the right feedback.

I have learned plenty of new skills as I went into this apprenticeship some what new to engineering. So I knew very little, I have learnt the correct health and safety procedures to working in a workshop and the dedication and concentration needed. I have also learnt all kinds of skills mechanically and electrically for example how to identify components, disassemble and reassemble machinery how to use equipment such as a band saw and a pillar drill ect.

I highly enjoy my program although it has its ups and downs me as well as all the people around me are still learning how to complete the work even the instructors learn every day whether it be new ways of doing things ect but I feel it is giving me the skills necessary to excel in my course.

I think this is the issue that heta struggle the most with it feels like the students don’t have a voice as it is one of the larger establishments, as when we have raised issues they have either been pushed to a side or dealt with using the bear minimum effort or worst case scenario they have been completely ignored all together

I receive plenty of support from my employer they often come in and ask how things are and always listen to the issues we raise and report these issues back to heta they are very understanding of personal issues and or issues that we have with our place of assignment

I think our training instructors are very good as they encourage resilience and help students to reach an answer on their own as they don’t just tell you the answer straight away they allow you to take time reflecting on your work to see if you can find the issue but they also do step in if they believe you are struggling or the issue is past your capability

I feel like the qualification is very important and very crucial in performing my role as I am learning and beginning to understand all the basic principles to my work the skills I am learning are very important as I am tought the very basic minimum which are developable when I enter my role to a higher standard

Yes Howdens provide a range of social activities although I am not yet a fill member at Howdens joinery I hear they hold a softball tournament as well as other sports and a things such as competitive go carting where each branch races against eachother and the best of the best move forward to a higher level competition

Yes

Howdens is a company that is continuously growing and encourages diversity in many ways they also provide many benefits for their staff and treat them with the up most respect

Work hard and keep your head down as with Howdens you don’t have a job it’s more like a career