VPCR Technician Review

Since completing my L3 apprenticeship in July 2022 I have been working within the Product Improvement Department as a VPCR Technician, releasing and modifying parts on current product engines. VPCRs can be requested by a wide variety of people (including being raised on behalf of both customers and suppliers) and I regularly work with a lot of departments to ensure that any changes implemented meet project requirements and work as expected. I am now at Teesside University completing my Mechanical Engineering Degree through 1 day a week of day release on a degree apprenticeship programme.

So far on the apprenticeship I have completed the following modules; Applied Mathematical Methods, Manufacturing Processes, Product and Assembly Design Modelling, Mechanics of Materials 1, Aeroengines and Rocket Science

The modules are usually very interesting, though it can be interesting comparing learning expectations to an industrial environment. It does sometimes feel unbalanced as there can be weeks where there is very little to do, and then when an assignment is given or an exam is coming up there is a massive swing in workload, but this is no different to being a full time student.

I spend one day a week at University from September to May, and then through the Summer semester have a more work based module that is studied remotely. Before we were started we were given a very clear plan of what modules we would be doing when, and when we would need to work on our EPA portfolio etc alongside this. Communication from the apprenticeship quality coach can be somewhat random and unreliable, with a massive quantity of form emails sent out regularly, however expectations around write-ups for portfolios are often not clearly given.

Cummins are a very supportive employer, I have never had an issue getting the time required as long as I have blocked it out in my calendar so people are aware, and there is a strong apprenticeship culture throughout the company so everybody completely understands that my 1 day a week of unavailability is not negotiable.

Support from module leaders on the course varies by lecturer, and though they put lectures and seminars on the same day for apprentices, office hours are either on a separate day and therefore inaccessible to those on day release, or in the time that is in our timetable for a lunch break, rather than being at the end of the day.

What we have covered so far has given me a better understanding of some of the concepts / data I work with and an understanding of how processes I am familiar with may differ across other companies, and the module last summer provided a lot more experience with CAD programmes which was useful as I often use CAD, but not to any great extent.

There is an onsite gym, and everybody is very friendly with my own team regularly going out for a "cuisine club" on an evening, however there is no longer a social club and the only site wide activities are the annual Christmas meal and Summer BBQ (both are delicious). I believe this does differ between various UK sites.

Yes

They are very supportive of apprentices, and the work life balance is fantastic at all levels.

It's a great place to work, and the apprenticeships have a great reputation with plenty of opportunity for development afterwards.