Higher Business Leadership Apprentice Review

We rotate around the business every four months, and start a year placement in the second year. I have just started the year placement and have chosen the role as a Buyer in Sourcing. This involves liaising with suppliers on quotes through phone calls and raising purchase orders. As an Apprentice, I am ambassador, so I organise roundtables with Senior Management in order to gain exposure of our course. Next week, a group of us are volunteering at the local animal shelter. On a daily basis, i interact with the course leader, Dion. He is helping me to achieve a role I would love to have and would be very enthusiastic about - also becoming a course leader. A project I am currently working on is a simplification process of a board we deal with on site, as well as raising awareness for another apprenticeship scheme.

I have been on a lot of training, from corporate training such as Inclusive Leadership, Influencing Skills and How To Coach. Previous to this, I had never worked ina production/manufacturing/engineering environment, and I now understand the whole process of the business, due to our apprenticeship rotating around all sectors of the supply chain. I now have gained a good phone manner and writing skills, due to having the responsibility of emailing customers and suppliers. We are also assigned mentors, where I have been trained to be more assertive and learnt how to say 'no'!

I didn't know what to expect when joining a year and a half ago, and it has exceeded my expectations. The teams are very encouraging of apprentices and therefore do give us a lot of responsibility with work, and are not just watching others, this does mean making mistakes, however these are learnt from. The Culture is great, they look after their employees so well, with schemes such as '£ for lb', where every pound lost in weight of an employee, a pound in money is given to charity. I do enjoy earning and learning, especially knowing I am getting paid to study a degree - complete opposite of the University Experience!

We often have reviews from our department manager and our course leader, which is great for both positive feedback and areas of development. I do feel valued due to the amount of responsbility given, as mentioned above. We are allowed to represent the company, whether it's at a careers fair or with a customer in America. They value apprentices due to having a 'fresh set of eyes' on the company processes.

Every apprentice has the same structure. we have study days approximately twice a month. The induction was structured, and our timetables are, with our rotations, although these often change. Mentor meetings are structured. Task delegation is whenever work is available. I was not impressed with the communication structure before joining the job. I had a phone call telling me i got the job, but no other information other than that. I was not told a start date or time and my emails were not replied to.

We are supported by Coventry University, and have had a total of 5 lecturers in the last year and a half. Each one has varied in their classroom teaching approach. Some have been more supportive than others, for example will happily have phone calls and mark drafts of assignments, and have 1 to 1 sessions, although others do not provide this. We are always sent an agenda of our university day a week prior.

Yes, our course leader is always available to talk to about any worries or problems. We have also been assigned mentors, mine is in HR, and is direct, and we were put together so she could show me how to be more direct and confident. Those sat around me understand I am an apprentice so are very patient whilst teaching us new things.

GE offers a very competitive salary, meaning I have been able to buy my own car, as well as fund all my driving lessons/tests. I am also saving for a mortgage, yet still get to go out socially and enjoy my first full time job.

Yes. I am co-ordinating rounders this year for GE Cheltenham Olympics. This will be held outside work, and lots of other events are being organised too. I have represented GE at the House of Lords. Next week I am volunteering at the local animal shelter. Last week I attended a assessing day for secondary schools pupil's GCSE English Listening and Speaking exam to help out. There are sports classes available in the evenings. In the summer, me and the other apprentices are doing 10k for Race for Life. I am going to a college next week to represent another apprenticeship scheme.

Yes

I have a few friends who have applied to the course this year! I think it's great to experience real life work, and being able to use these examples in our university work. No day is the same, due to the training and volunteering opportunities. It is great for people who want to progress and learn about something new. At the end of the three years, we will be much more employable than someone who has just finished a degree- as we have the same qualifications yet also three years work experience, as well as training. Also compared to University, they come out with debts, whereas we get paid.

GE really values its culture, for example the Growth Values. It would be important to research these first to make sure GE is right for you. Also, to mention as much experience as possible, even if it was babysitting, as a lot of apprentices come straight from school. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone, but this is only to stretch and develop you as an individual.