Business Apprentice Review

Currently I am a 1st year Business Modern Apprentice working within the Typhoon Support Team. I cover a large variety of tasks each and every day whilst at work and i enjoy that each job can be different. The majority of my work is contract based but I also get involved with some of the estimating as well in between live jobs that i have.

I am currently completing my ECDL course and a Project Management course as part of my apprenticeship at Runshaw Adult College. Also as part of my apprenticeship within the workplace I will complete an NVQ qualification. Personally I feel like my confidence has grown since becoming a part of BAE Systems as I know feel much more confident when meeting new people and making new connections.

I really enjoy my apprenticeship programme and it has definitely been the right move for me. At BAE Systems we have many great opportunities such as volunteering for different events taking place around the country and some of us even get chance to go out and visit suppliers and customers overseas. The apprenticeship has definitely met and even gone beyond my expectations, I really enjoy my job role within BAE Systems and I feel a valued member of each team that I work with.

As mentioned above I feel extremely valued by BAE Systems as they offer so much support to ensure that we are successful as an apprentice. Each team that I have worked with so far have welcomed me and I have enjoyed working with them learning new things along the way as well as being more confident to ask for help and support as my co-workers are really friendly.

I feel the programme is very well organised as we are always given the support that we need in each placement to help us complete our core learning objectives and also learn further additional things. I feel we are always given the full training required in each placement as we are always given an induction course. Also at the start of the programme we are all given the induction training which ensures we are ready for the workplace.

I feel I am given the support that I require from my tutor to ensure that I successfully complete the programme and my work/assignments in the programme too. We have learner reviews at different stages during our apprenticeship and we also have further meetings to review our progress with our NVQ work and college work which is helpful too.

I am currently on my 2nd placement and so far I must say that both my managers have been extremely supportive towards me and they ensure that I am successful in all that I do whilst working within the team as well as giving me decent and varied work too. I feel that as an apprentice we are given any support that we require to be successful.

For myself I used to work for Halifax Bank prior to joining BAE Systems as an apprentice so I did in fact take a pay cut to join BAE Systems as an apprentice. I understood that I would be earning less money but I also understand that BAE Systems will offer me many more opportunities as a pose to my previous job. I think overall the pay is quite good considering I am a 1st year apprentice and I understand that my pay will increase as I progress through the scheme.

At BAE Systems there are many opportunities to get involved with different events that that take place outside of work. Examples are company stands at air-shows, supporting visits to schools and colleges to promote the BAE Systems apprenticeship scheme, different local community days such as completing DIY activities as schools and also we have many different sports teams within the business such as football teams.

Yes

I would definitely recommend the BAE Systems apprenticeship scheme to a friend as the scheme offers so many different opportunities that you may never get offered elsewhere. Also the business is very welcoming and they treat apprentices with the same respect as any other employee, which gives you chance to take on responsibilities.

My advice to people applying for BAE Systems is to make sure that you are confident and always ask as many questions as you possibly can during the interview stage of the process. Also ensure that you understand our business and the different things that we do as well as the products we manufacture and sell and other support we give to our customers.