Mechanical Engineering Apprentice Review

Every 3 months we move around the company into different placements which all provide us with a new set of jobs, but our roles stay the same. It is our role to help the team out with current work as well as shadow the team in more complicated tasks. I give daily updates to my manager as to where I am with tasks.

I have been able to develop a range of new skills during the apprenticeship, not just from academic qualifications, but from internal training courses and on the job experiences as well.

I have enjoyed my time on the apprenticeship programme. I have enjoyed the range of work I have been able to do as well as given the chance to work in a variety of teams. I have also been given opportunities I didn't think I would get such as getting a tour of the houses of parliament and taking part in a robot competition in America to promote apprenticeships.

I feel like a valued member of MBDA. We are given feedback by line managers and the apprentice manager when we have done a good job and this is then reflected in our reviews.

The MBDA apprenticeship is well structured. During your first month you complete an induction/interaction event which introduces you to managers and the rest of the early career programme members, from across the sites. At the start of each placement you have a meeting with your line manager to discuss objectives for you to complete. At the end of the placement you are then reviewed against these objectives.

Our college will give us some support if we do not understand what a question is asking of us, but won't go out of there way to re-teach a subject unless the whole class is struggling.

MBDA gives us the opportunity to have a mentor who can help us with any issues we are facing whether it be college related or looking at developing a certain skill. We also have a maths session run once a week by a line manager to help us with our college assignments. The HR team is very helpful if we have any queries related to the apprenticeship.

My salary allows me to cover all my living and travel costs, although I live very close to work. It also allows you to be able to save towards owning a house and allows me to be independent and afford the stuff I need myself.

As part of the apprenticeship you get involved in a lot of events. We are often encouraged to go into local schools to give talks about apprenticeships as well as setting up stalls at shows such as the skills show. MBDA also does a local inter-school completion run by apprentices called robot rumble, this is not only a good way to get local ids interested in engineering but as an apprentice gives you the opportunity and responsibility of running an event.

Yes

MBDA is a good company to work for because it creates a good working environment with lots of benefits such as flexible working hours, good salary and opportunities to progress.

Come along to one of our career open days to talk to apprentices because this will give you a better idea of what sort of work you would be doing and allow you to make some contacts. I would also recommend bring a couple of questions along to an interview to ask your employer because it shows you are interested and engaged.