Apprentice Wind Turbine Technicain Review

by Siemens

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.6/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

I am a apprentice in the Siemens Wind division and work daily on wind turbines. My day to day tasks can include completing services, fixing faults or escorting contractors around the turbines. when I come to site in the morning we complete a tool box talk and discuss who is working with each other that day and what task needs to be done as fixing faults takes priority over servicing a turbine.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Prior to this job I had no skills related to this job but during the apprenticeship I am working towards a level 3 NVQ in mechanical and electrical engineering. I have completed my level 2 in September 2015 and working towards the level 3 part of it now. I have also been sent on training courses by my company in order to allow me to work on turbines, some of the training certificates I hold are, Helicopter underwater escape training, manual handling, GWO working at heights, first aid, Advanced rescue trained... etc.

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I do enjoy what I am doing but there are some days where I do feel a bit down as I am constantly away from my family due to the site and shift pattern that I am currently on but I do get weekends off which is good!

9/10

4. How valued do you feel by Siemens?

Unsure

5/10

5. How well organised/structured is your programme?

With Siemens being new to apprenticeships in my field I feel that the program has struggled for previous apprentices but they seem to have got to grips with it and its working well for myself.

7/10

6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?

So far my support has been good/ok-ish, sometimes it does take the training provider slightly longer to reply but I do understand the reasons why.

7/10

6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?

My apprentice manager is always approachable with any doubts/queries I may have.

8/10

7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?

I am very happy with my wage it has enabled me to save money up quicker and travel on holidays more.

10/10

8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?

When you work away from home all the time it is quite hard to do anything outside of work. If you work offshore then you will be on 12hour shifts starting at 06.30 so by the time you get back to the hotel and have had tea, shower and sorted yourself out its nearly time for bed again

4/10

9. Would you recommend Siemens to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Because the apprenticeship is really good and you are not contracted to Siemens after the apprenticeship has finished so if you wanted to then you could leave. Siemens does have a lot of good packages like the pension for example, they will pay for all of your training certificates and invest heavily in you.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Siemens?

The initial online application is vital! Spend a lot of time making sure you do this correctly as if its wrong then you are not going to get through to the aptitude tests at all. The aptitude tests aren't as important as the initial application, you could score averagely in the tests but because your application was excellent then you will get a interview ahead of someone who scores excellent in the tests but had a rubbish application. But at the end of the day be yourself and try to express that.