Civil Large Engines Engineering Higher Apprentice Review

Engineering Higher Apprentice - Move round different roles in the Civil Aerospace Business dependent on my Department Alignment (Services). Interact with a huge number of people internally as well as a variety of external suppliers and customers. Some placements provide a large project, others I simply act as part of the team, dealing with whatever work they get faced with and approaching a number of different tasks. As an apprentice, everything is checked by my Team Lead, however as advance through, more responsibility is allocated towards me ready for my first substantive role.

I have learnt how to interact with colleagues much better, and how to approach different people in different ways in order to aid me gaining the information I require. I have learnt a huge amount about gas turbine engines, and specifically Rolls-Royce's Trent and RB211 series, and as a result learned a lot about how engineering components are produced. I also learned how a large company works which I feel is vital for an engineering career.

My enjoyment differs depending on the placement I am undertaking. Some placements don't have as much work as others, and I am left feeling bored at points, where as others I have more work than I can deal with, which I relish as I feel these situations are where I will improve the most. Generally I enjoy the programme, however there are some down sides that aren't specifically anyone's fault, some team leaders are simply too busy to assign work, or work is not applicable to an apprentice role.

I do feel valued. They have put a lot of money into training me, both in my applied NVQ and my degree. Hence, I will become a valuable asset and will hopefully move into a responsible role within the business I am aligned to.

There are some flaws in the communication between the business and the training side of things, however these are improving all the time, and will hopefully be at a level soon where there are consistent communication channels between the business contacts and the training representatives and Apprentice Development Leaders (ADLs).

In terms of my training provider, I will make the assumption that this means the NVQ or Degree training. In terms of the NVQ, we have assigned assessors within the business who assess our work. We also have contacts within the EAL who we can talk to if we have issues with the NVQ. The degree is slightly different in that it follows a normal degree programme, simply part time on day release. The help comes in the form of tutorials and lectures, and additional help can be sought if necessary.

My employer and the various delegated people around the business responsible for my training are very supportive. I have regular reviews with them to see how my placements are going and discussions on where I would ultimately like to work within the company. There is ample support in place should I provide it, as mentioned my ADL is a good source of information and a 'first line' for support when required.

Initially it was a struggle, as I had just moved out of home so I wouldn't need to commute. However, as I have advanced through the apprenticeship and moved up the stages (and pay grades) allocated to my scheme, it has become much easier to live sustainably, and save money as well.

There is the Rolls-Royce Leisure Society, who run various clubs and have sporting facilities we can use. In addition, the Apprentice Graduate Association (AgA) which is a Derby based organisation, but mainly made up of RR apprentices and graduates, organise various external activities such as Go Ape, Go Karting, Pub Golf, and many others. This is invaluable for meeting other apprentices.

Yes

It's a very good scheme that prepares you very well for working in a large engineering company. You learn a huge amount, technically and otherwise, to allow you to become a well-rounded engineer. The education is paid for, and most get the chance to continue from the Foundation Degree on to the Top-Up Degree programme. The NVQ Level 4 is also well recognised. It is an invaluable chance to get experience in a world-renowned engineering company.

It involves a lot of work; the education has to be done in the time away from work which can be difficult when working 8-5 each day. However if a lot of effort is applied, it is the perfect scheme to set you well for the future. Also, much more can be gained from the scheme if it is approached with an open mind, and every opportunity is seized.