Engineering Higher Apprentice Review

Working in Hunt Class Output Management means we are responsible for keeping the Mine Countermeasure vessels ready for when the MOD need them. This means that we are constantly dealing with Naval High Command and the chief engineer for the class. The biggest job I have so far completed here was to test the watertight integrity survey of one of the ships. This is vital so the MOD know their ship is safe to sail. In my role as an apprentice here I have also completed a Civil Engineering placement. My duties as an apprentice are STEM events, engaging with the apprentice council and ensuring I have enough work within my placement.

As a part of the apprenticeship I will have earned an HNC Level 4 and an NVQ Level 4. I have also learned how to use CAD software and how to be safe working on site. Having worked on building sites before working on a Naval Base is a whole new experience.

As an apprentice group we all get on well. Every year group is friendly and approachable if you need anything. This is the same for managers and even executives. Many of them were apprentices themselves and so they understand where you have come from and what your goals are. I love working here at BAE Systems. I have always been fascinated by warships and how they work. It is still surreal being able to just walk on and off a destroyer as we please.

In Hunt COM I feel extremely valued. Due to budget constraints the department has too few people doing too much work. So apprentices in this department are valuable assets and do actual vital work for the MOD. Working at BAE Systems apprentices are never 'tea boys'. In every department we do valuable work that is vital to the business.

The program is very well structured. We do the first year in college which is a bit frustrating as all we want to do is get on ship and do work. But this is necessary to ensure we have the right skills to do the job. After our first year we then do a weeks health and safety training to ensure we have the right certificates to work on ship and on the naval base. We are also given a mentor when we come onto the naval base. They are here to help us if we have any issues with work that we don't want to go to management about. We also have an apprentice council that can take issues we have up to an executive level.

We receive lots of support from both our manager and NVQ assessor in order to aid us through our course. All of our managers are approachable and helpful with anything we need.

The business gives us lots of support. They are very aware that we are the future of the business and we will be replacing the people that are retiring.

At first it was a struggle as I relocated from London. But with the 6 monthly pay rises it is now far easier. I also had the option to commute from London daily as there are 2 train stations in close proximity to BAE Systems sites in Portsmouth. However the journey was just over 2 hours so it was easier to relocate to Portsmouth.

STEM is very much pushed to us here. This involves going out into local schools and promoting what we do on a day to day business.

Yes

They are a brilliant company to work for with a wide range of opportunities. There aren't too many businesses out there where you can say that you worked on that warship as it sails past.

Take every opportunity you can get, say yes to everything once you get into the business. If you do you will gain amazing experiences with the work you can do.