Apprentice Maintenance Engineer Review

I am an apprentice maintenance engineer in the factory and my general duties are to maintain and improve the performance of particular equipment such as industrial ovens. Each machine in the factory has a day allocated to maintenance in the week. I am currently attending workshop days in college 4 days a week and the other day is used to gain my formal BTEC qualification. After this i will be back in the factory.

I have learnt many physical skills as well as gained a lot of knowledge regarding my field. I am undertaking an electrical based engineering course as my BTEC and have learnt a lot about the theory and practical side of electrical engineering. The workshop days have taught me how essential it is to write a permit to work and have a sequence of ops for certain workshop operations. I have learnt how to use machinery effectively and safely and have developed my skills on hand tools and also learnt how to weld.

I am enjoying my programme greatly as I enjoy making things as well as learning anything to do with engineering. The other bonus is that i know i will have a good qualification when i have finished which will leave me open to good opportunities through life.

I feel like my manager wants the best to come out of the apprenticeship for me and feel like all colleagues are fully supportive and friendly.

So far my programme has gone according to plan and has been a rush to complete somethings however work have helped when they can. College has been a bit unorganised with regards to staffing and lesson structure on BTEC days however this does not reflect on my companies organisation and structure.

The training provider overall is good for supporting workers however sometimes it takes a little longer than usual to receive help if all students are in the workshop. Generally if I need support with practical work, an assessor is available to help. If i have any issues my training advisor is happy to listen and take them into any meetings to raise the issue.

Any time i need any help or have a query, a member of the HR team, or my manager is always happy to help me out and answer any questions i have.

The salary I am on is a decent amount for a learner under an apprenticeship scheme however, I live far away from the college and work and so travel costs are pretty high in proportion to my wage. With all costs considered such as vehicle maintenance, fuel costs, cost to live at home etc. I am not left with a lot of money after being paid.

I do attend sports clubs such as the gym and football however i have had to limit this since gaining the apprenticeship. Before working at Bakkavor, i had a 2 month break after finishing my previous job where i worked as an accounts/sales manager for a small company. Bakkavor have included me in a series of people to participate in Tough Mudder where a few employees can complete the course for charity.

Yes

Bakkavor is a well established company who offer good opportunities through the apprenticeship scheme. They pay well and treat employees well as well.

I would suggest that any apprentice considering the job, that they must enjoy engineering before applying for definite and must have a genuine interest in it in order to get the best out of the scheme. For the interview, i would say to relax but try to be professional; as the interviewer and others involved in the process are relaxed and speak to you on a personal level. I would tell them to keep on top of college work and seek any guidance if unsure about anything. I would also tell them to take any opportunities and experiences that are offered as they are great for earning skills as well as meeting new people and growing as a person.