Apprentice Mechanical Fitter Review

Shadowing a journeyman, assisting in both routine and corrective maintenance. Sometimes being left to work without the direct input of a journeyman, to expand experiences and abilities through safe and controlled procedures.

A lot of new skills have been leaned whilst I have been on my apprenticeship journey. Skills, I wouldn't have if I'd gone with my original idea and applied to university. Any skills I had prior to starting my apprenticeship have been extended and are now more refined.

I enjoy everyday I got to work, and there is always new experiences to be had, and new skills to be learned. It has a great welcoming atmosphere and you'll never feel awkward or unwanted.

Praise from line managers and journeyman, as well as seeing a job through and watching it being used on plant gives you great job satisfaction and appreciation.

You spend your first year of your apprenticeship at a training college to learn the skills required to perform the role of a mechanical fitter, and earning a Lvl 2 SVQ, the second and third year is spent on site, at GSK learning about plant, learning the specifics of the role I am being trained in and working towards me Lvl 3 SVQ. The forth year is spent doing more independent work, and completing the books to achieve the Lv3 3 SVQ.

Any support required is given as soon as possible and to the best standards available. The training college we attended in our first year continues to oversee our progress and make quarterly checks each year to ensure we are still on target and if we require any assistance or information.

Our employer helps in every way possible from, support in the workplace, to extra time being given to support our studies if required. They try to open up interesting and challenging jobs to broaden our experiences whenever available.

The pay received is very fair, and allows a comfortable lifestyle while still being able to make savings. Other months where overtime is available really allows for this aswell.

GSK offers an Orange day, where we are given a paid day off to support our local areas, with charity work or something similar. We are to be taken on an Outward Bound course, free of charge, for our pleasure in the near future to learn about team building and the values that are expected of us at GSK.

Yes

In my 3 years experience with GSK, it was been a very good apprenticeship with a lot of opportunities opened up to me, a variety of different skills learned and a great camaraderie amongst the work force makes everyday a pleasure.

Apply early and show you are keen to learn and be open to all kinds of experiences. as long as you show interest in the subject field where you're applying you'll probably get along great.