Export Apprentice Review

I am currently completing a Business Administration apprenticeship. My role within the company is an Export Apprentice. Daily tasks within this role include controlling access, ensuring our products, services and movements have the relevant authorisations when they come in and go off sites, answering any queries related to Export Control, carrying out Export training across the Business Unit etc. Daily interactions within the Business Unit are usually carried out via emails, phone calls, however my role is within an office environment also. External interactions include communicating to our partners on various projects and customers/suppliers for queries and gaining information. My role is currently being carried out on a particular project to develop my knowledge, experience but to also have a central point of contact for support.

I have received various amounts of internal/external training which was developed my knowledge around the Export subject. This has taken place through team members/line managers and export training events throughout the year. In relation to the Business Administration apprentice course, I have developed my written and verbal communication however do not feel that I have learnt anything new around the subject itself

I have enjoyed my overall apprenticeship with the company and within my team. I have learnt so many skills from working within my team and have improved my knowledge on export greatly from when I first started. I do not feel however that the Business Administration course has been greatly relevant to my job role and has not overall met my expectations of being a particular challenge and a change to learn a lot from it

Overall I feel very valued by BAE Systems and appreciated from the work that I carry out. Currently I have monthly reviews with my manager to review my years objectives and use the opportunity to discuss any concerns or opportunities that I would like to get involved in. There are various projects and opportunities that the apprentices can get involved in at BAE Systems, I have currently had the chance to be a part of an Innovation Challenge, where we fundraise and research, design, create a piece of material that would be beneficial for the ex-serviceman at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I am also involved in a on-going project which hopes to extend the life of one of our products for 10 years. This has been a chance to work independently and use the skills and knowledge I have gained from training.

Within my role, I had monthly reviews with my manager to review my performance objectives and discuss any concerns etc. I also attend various training events throughout the year which develops my knowledge on the Export Control subject. I believe that having an overall internal apprentice manager would of been beneficial to identify opportunities that are relevant to me to get involved in but also having a direct point of contact to discuss my college course, assessor, meetings, concerns etc. as my role manager was not greatly involved in the apprentice scheme itself.

My training provider came in a monthly basis to review where I am with my units and to discuss how to further achieve them etc. Support and guidance at these meetings were valuable and useful to what I needed to do. I think that outside these monthly meetings, communication with my training provider was not always effective and a response in a timely manner (to meet deadlines) was not always retrieved

I receive a great amount of support from my employer/line manager for development, guidance, training and general support. I have not had my interaction with the HR team and a opportunity to have mentor did not happen although I think this would of been valuable

The overall salary/package for apprentices was very much average. This enabled to live with a partner but restricted tightly other living/social costs The company package has been good overall for travels, apprentices have a business card which is used for business travel/accommodation and refreshments. I do not think the management of salary exiting apprenticeship is managed effectively or organised properly.

Within the projects I have worked on, this has involved various amounts of fundraising events and company activities internally. On a yearly basis, the apprentices are invited to an apprentice evening where a venue event is organised as a change to reflect achievements in the business. I have volunteered with the business to carry out a 'Big Build' event which involved building a park for the community use

Yes

Overall the company is great to work for and there are many opportunities available if seeked for. The company values you as an individual and recognises achievements very well.

The application process is not consistent for all apprentices, but my experience was that the process through our External HR was not efficient and personal details were accidentally shared to the other candidate