Higher engineering Apprentice Review

I am a higher engineering apprentice aligned to the test and measurement department within Rolls-Royce Derby. As part of the Higher apprenticeship you will experience several placements within the company so your day to day jobs change continuously depending on your placement. Jobs can include working on projects, design work analytical jobs, conducting experiments etc. You will interact with your team daily and many people within the company and outside the company such as customers. You are given responsibilities as the jobs you carry out are important but you'll never be left in the deep end on your own! You will not be given meaningless tasks during work, you will be given actual tasks and projects that are crucial to the operation of the company.

Prior to starting the apprenticeship I had limited knowledge on engineering, other than what I had learnt at school and a levels. On the apprenticeship you will develop your own personal interaction skills as you will be required to communicate to multiple people daily and will change working environments as placements continue. You will complete and NVQ level 4 which will include units such as design units, project management and evaluation units, all of these skills are transferable to other businesses. You will be sent on external training courses to further your knowledge during the duration of your apprenticeship whether they be learning manual handling skills or how a gas turbine engine works. I have learnt a great deal about engineering during my time here and the processes involved to make a product.

I thoroughly enjoy my apprenticeship. Jobs can change in difficulty, some may be easy quick projects whereas others may be projects that take several months however the work is always rewarding. The teams in which work in will always make you feel welcome and provide invaluable support. When you think of engineering you usually just consider manufacturing or assembling a car or a plane etc, but I was surprised about how in depth and intricate the engineering network can be to make a final product.

Rolls-Royce values their apprentices very much as they are the future of the company. They invest a lot of time and money into the apprenticeship programme and so it is important that they value them. When you join a new team in a placement you are not treated as an outsider, but rather a fundamental member of the team, who is given real life important projects and therefore have responsibility. I do feel valued both in the teams I worked in and my apprenticeship in general.

Upon being accepted for the apprenticeship you will be given an induction in the first week to let you know about the apprenticeship and what the structure is. the first 9 months of the apprenticeship is spent in the training school learning engineering techniques such as turning, milling, welding etc. Throughout these 9 months you will have inductions into the different business areas throughout the company where you will have placements. After completing the training school you will enter the business and start placements. Every 12 weeks you will have a review with your apprentice development leader to assess how you are doing in your training and if you need support or not. organisation for placements can be lacking sometimes and you may need to take a very proactive approach in your apprenticeship to get them sorted.

You will be provided with support for college and NVQ work throughout your time. Your NVQ assessor will help you to identify what NVQ units you can hit and where you are likely to get them. If you are struggling with the NVQ then there are head assessors and your ADL that you can refer to provide support

Rolls-Royce is very supportive of its employees and is very reasonable when it comes to support. you will be allowed time of for exams and study leave when you attend university. The business functions listen to their apprentices very much and are willing to support you no matter what, whether it be changing business function or degree.

The wages are competitive and increase upon completing certain stages of your NVQ. I currently live in derby on my own and run a car, I enjoy going out at the weekends with my friends and spending money on luxuries. For my lifestyle money can be tight but I am never left without money at the end of the month

For both apprentices and graduates there is the AGA, the apprentice and graduate association which operates similarly to a student union at university. They put on events at discounted prices that you can attend if you wish from nights out to paintballing and skydiving. Another additional part of your apprenticeship will be taking part in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) activities where you go to local schools or national conventions and try to get more younger people interested in engineering. There are gym facilities on site and a leisure centre for employees to use anytime of the day and there are multiple sports clubs to join if you wish.

Yes

It is a challenging and engaging apprenticeship designed to engage you and develop your engineering skills. Having Rolls-Royce behind you as an employer will always look good on your CV regardless of whether or not you choose to work at Rolls-Royce or move to another engineering industry. There are many opportunities available to develop your own skills and learn new skills as well as giving you a hands on approach to engineering. The transition into the business at the end of the apprenticeship is made easier by completing the placements as they present you with real life jobs which you will experience day to day.

Ensure you know what apprenticeship you are applying for as there are several to choose from. Within the higher engineering apprenticeship there are both electrical and mechanical roles to be placed into so they can cater to whatever your taste. provided you complete the pre-interview tests you will be invited to an assessment day where you and several others will be interviewed on your knowledge and about yourself personally. The assessment days can be daunting but just make sure you are prepared. There are opportunities to move throughout the company both nationally and internationally.