Maintenance Apprentice Review

My role as an apprentice is to learn the skills and gain necessary experience on jobs on site up to the point where I can be assessed and passed as SQEP to complete the task myself.

I feel that the knowledge and basic skills I learned in my first two years have been vital in providing a foundation for me to further enhance my skills with the work I am undertaking on site.

I find the work we do interesting and enjoy learning about the jobs and plant systems. I feel satisfied when I show signs of improvement on a task.

EDF Energy have invested a lot of money in me to complete this programme and have sponsored me to go to college for a HNC, all of which makes me feel valued by the company.

The first two years are very well organised as you follow a set programme which is designed to introduce you to the basics of the trade. In the next two years, you are expected to take more ownership of your qualification.

Babcock provided some support to us in our first two years. However, I feel like they could have made better use of some of their resources to introduce more practical work for us in our second year.

EDF have supported us by providing us with accomodation and food whilst living away. On site, they support the costs of our travel to college which is a great help.

I am pleased with my salary and find it supports my cost of living well. Over the course of my apprenticeship I have managed to save some money aside which sets me up[ well for the future

I feel the skills gained in the apprenticeship are transferable to outside of work. EDF also tries to organise events to participate in outside of work.

Yes

I have enjoyed my experience and feel that the opportunity for further education provided in 3rd and 4th year is especially important for people who have to make a choice between university and the apprenticeship.

You must be prepared to move away for two years, so you have to be able to deal with homesickness. Other than that, you have to approach the learning with an open mind and be willing to take on advice and criticisms.