Technical Apprentice Review

I am currently on final placement in the company's ECAD department, working on PCB layout and design. My day to day varies, dependant on how busy we are as a department and what projects are coming in

In my first two years I achieved and HNC in engineering systems and my PEO, and now in my third year, I have started on my HND in engineering systems. I achieved the internal apprentice of the year for the Edinburgh site, and got the final placement I was looking to get. I have also been learning and getting an understanding of the ECAD toolset and how the processes all work together within my department

I enjoy the work that I do, and most of the people I work with in the programme. The apprentice management team do what they can for us, but they don't seem well enough equipped to handle the numbers we have in the programme - due to a larger new intake, even with the addition of a new manager to help spread the load. Every department has a good approach to the apprentice programme, and help at every available opportunity to support you, and answer any questions you may have.

Within the company - awards like apprentice of the year are self nominated and well recognised within. Additionally when helping out with additional projects, like recruitment or publicity you get a wee nod from management. With work related stuff - I was concerned that I would only be given busy work - which has not been the case. Departments are looking to have apprentices understand what is going on - and to be useful as soon as possible, and the work we do is actually used and we are credited for it.

When I started, the induction was rather haphazard as there wasn't an apprentice manager for the first few months. The college work my year completed for our PEO was unrelated to any work we do onsite, and has since been adapted for future year groups. The apprentice management team added another training manager, Michael to help with the workload, but they still seem to be struggling to manage numbers

I have had great difficulty getting any information out of my assessor, which has so far been to the detriment of my SVQ level3 I have had great support from my departments throughout my rotational placements and now into my final placement with anything I need help with, and they are happy and eager to help where they can

My person mentor/assessor has been dodging me for over 6 months at this stage, which is really impacting my progress - and any attempts I make to reach out are ignored. The HR team as far as apprentices are concerned, are solely the apprentice management team - and mentioned before, they do the best they can, but seem to be buckling under the numbers and the support available previously is no longer there

Considering my age and limited experience when I started at Leonardo (then Selex ES)the salary is quite substantial - if I was still living with my parents, like most of the apprentices are. However that is not an option available to me, and so I have to afford living costs and rent as well as travel costs etc. Everything is more expensive in Edinburgh, from rent to my weekly shop, and that's before you even take into account social or daily costs. The site is easy enough to access from the city, but salary is a bit low to encompass comfortable living in the vicinity.

There are a lot of opportunities to help out with local schools are recruitment events and charities. Departments can put you forward for internal and external training courses to help you progress and develop in your work. The company also has a deal set up with the gym complex next door, that allows us free membership

Yes

It's a good opportunity with a lot of potential for growth and development - its a good community to be a part of, and all of the apprentices tend to get on well.

I would recommend that they apply early, and stay honest in their interview - if they don't understand something just to say so - and to treat every day of their apprenticeship like an interview, because you are constantly under scrutiny