Higher Apprentice Review

Currently I'm being trained for two positions, to make me a multi-skilled engineer. So my placements over the last 2-3 years of my programme I have been placed on a number of placements that will support my final job role. The two job positions I'm being trained for are Design and Stress Analysis. My first two placements have been focused on the Design job role.

Everyday I'm gaining new skills or improving skills. And I can already see that the previous skills learnt within the environment of the first year based in the Learning Development Academy, have come out within the work place.

During the first year of my apprenticeship scheme, I learnt and enjoyed a lot, then there has been a few hiccups in getting the apprentices placements and reasonable work on these placement. I guess with every apprenticeship won't always run as smoothly as you want.

I feel highly valued by the Apprentice Development Team. However I feel like a bit of a nuisance by the business, because I'm always asking for work or assistance.

The programme is well structured and organised; it’s just sometimes there can be complications with the academic side or work placement side of things. This may bring people’s views down of the programme. It’s worth taking a step back and looking at how the cogs run in doing this I realised the training team try their best and allow us to achieve our best, in each activity we take on.

Currently we are in a transition period between swapping training providers, so the current training provider isn't giving us there best support, but providing adequate support.

From the Apprentice Development Team an outstanding amount of support in trying to make our journey through the apprenticeship scheme as smooth as possible and responding to issues raised efficiently and effectively.

All I have to think about all the other add-ons provided, e.g. a University Degree. makes me think the salary is worth it knowing that i will have a degree under my 'belt' and no university fees to pay off. Which makes me feel like the salary is fair.

Work has an Apprentice and Graduate Association which offer us all sort of activities to get involved in at a discounted rate. Allowing us to make friends with other people from areas of the business you wouldn’t meet

Yes

The main reason I applied was the fact I could be paid to get a degree. And I’d recommend that as the stresses of money can become a problem. I’d also recommend Rolls-Royce as it is well organised, structured and agile in responses to failures.

If you are like me and sceptical about being accepted and therefore decide not to apply, you’d be wrong as what is the worst that could happen. You get a position or you explore alternative routes. If you get knocked back apply the following year, and always ask for feedback. It took me three applications to various schemes from a schools apprenticeship - advanced apprenticeship and then a higher apprenticeship.