Apprentice Technician Review

I am training as a QPM engineer and my role involves supporting production, manufacture, and quality as a process owner on a day to day basis within the conformal coat area and the paint shop area. I also am a process owner for the Ionograph which involves testing board coming from one of the two cleaners daily to ensure quality and continuity is correct.

I am continuously learning new skills within the placement; examples of this include the IPC 610 Training that I have undertaken recently. This allows me to have a greater understanding of the standards to which the company works to, and also allows me to ensure that my work meets these standards. I have also learnt many other related skills such as working with ESD, and even team leadership skills.

The apprenticeship programme has been one of the most enjoyable events of working career, it has allowed me to develop the many skills necessary to continue in a working environment, and has also ensured that I am now a skilled and qualified worker, both of which are important in today’s working environment.

Working as part of BAE systems has allowed me to see how much they value their employees and apprenticeships; the level of support from the staff on site has been immense and has really allowed me to fill my role as a QPM engineer. Any concerns I have raised have immediately been reviewed and actioned as appropriate.

The apprenticeship programme is well organised, involving 12 week reviews to ensure that I am working to achieve completion of my NVQ portfolio. There is a period during the second year of my apprenticeship where we return to site after a year of training and spend 6 periods (each eight weeks long) in different placements allowing me to get a feel for the site and how it works.

The training provider offers many chances for support, including the 12 week reviews we also have monthly reviews to aid us as well as the opportunity to contend with any assessment should we feel like we have been unfairly assessed. This alongside yearly visits from the representative for the area has allowed us many chances to receive support should it be required.

My employer has ensured that any needs we have are met throughout the apprenticeship, there are many opportunities for me to request support should it be needed. We also have an apprentice designated as a representative to allow us a more comfortable and familiar forum should we have any concerns that need to be raised.

The salary we receive is sufficient enough to meet my outgoing costs, and allows me a sufficient amount spare to spend on myself. We also receive pay reviews that may incorporate an increase in our salary, and after the apprenticeship (assuming we are kept on) this goes up even higher which I am greatly looking forwards to.

Outside of work I am given the opportunity to visit other schools promoting both the apprenticeship scheme onsite, but also promoting engineering as an area of work on behalf of the MEBP. I also undertook a level 3 electronic engineering course at a local college and am now pursuing that even higher.

Yes

BAE Systems has been a good company to work for, and has given me plenty of opportunities to improve my work, and has really given me a solid foundation for my working career with the NVQ, the BTEC I undertook, and now the diploma I am working on currently which all allow me to work solidly in an engineering environment.

When applying to BAE Systems it is important to be honest, if you have areas to improve then highlight these areas and what you are currently/have done to improve them, but don’t make these the focus of your application. I think it is also important that you understand the area you are working towards and ensure that you research the company beforehand so you show knowledge of what the company works on.