Business Apprentice Review

My job title is a business management apprentice at BAE systems. My daily tasks include keeping on top of my emails and I am also in charge of my teams mailbox and updating a tracker with things that come into the mailbox and filing the emails away correctly. On a daily basis I have to interact with my manager and colleagues to check any emails that I don't understand and to make them aware of the ones that have come in to the folder. I also have to speak to the external customers on a daily basis to get them to supply more information to update the tracker and for our company records. I am responsible for keeping the tracker up to date and making sure everything is running smoothly with it. Alongside my role in the company I also have NVQ work to complete and college work for my Project Management qualification that I am doing at college. I am also involved in other extra curricular activites.

I have developed existing skills by doing the NVQ and project management BTEC at college as I did a different BTEC at college prior to starting at BAE so I had developed my essay writing skills there and I feel like I have transferred this knowledge into my role at BAE and developed it further. I have also really developed my communication skills, I have become a lot more confident on the speaking on the phone and I am more confident writing emails. I have been involved in lots of different training courses internally to develop my skills and also to give us the opportunity to learn new skills.

I really enjoy my apprenticeship at BAE systems. I am currently in my second placement and I have loved both placements I have been in to so far, all the team that I have worked with have all been lovely and have gone above and beyond to help me with my work and always give me time to do my college work and support my extra curricular activities. I did have high expectations of BAE with it being such a sought after apprenticeship but it has met all those expectations by far and I really enjoy my job!

I always feel valued at BAE, In both of my roles I have been given a clear job to do so I feel like I have a purpose. My managers are always appreciative of the work that we do and are always there to help and support you. No question is a silly question! I have been involved in lots of different projects and in organising some events and my opinion is always valued and my help is always appreciated by everyone involved.

The programme is very well structured. When you first start the apprenticeship you have a 2 week induction at Preston training centre where you are given all the information you need to go in to the business with. There is continuous training and support offered to you all the time and we have monthly 1 to 1 meetings to check we are up to date with all our college work and happy with how things are going with out placements.

We receive loads of support from out assessors they are always there to help with anything from NVQ to how we like our placements. They are always accessible and get back to your emails as soon as they can. They offer support snd guidance on your NVQ work and no question is ever stupid and if they cant help they point you in the right direction!

You receive lots of support from your employer, your manager is always there if your having any problems in your placement and if you are ill or have any difficulty getting into work they are there to help and to follow the correct procedures to help you out. The HR team are always there if you have any queries and they can be easily contacted by phone or email. When you first start ay BAE you get given a Buddy who helps you in your first few weeks to make sure you know where your going and offers you any support you may need. BAE has a general positive attitude towards supporting people and will do whatever they can to help you.

The Salary meets my costs well as I am still living at home with my parents. It covers the cost for my car and fuel to work, to pay my board and leaves me with enough so I can still go out at weekends and go on holidays. If I wasn't living at home it would probably be a struggle but I know at the end of the 2 years the salary would meet all costs.

There are loads of opportunities to get involved with things outside work, there are company events that people can go to and activities that people can get involved in. There is also the opportunity to become a STEM ambassador and by doing this you can go to schools in the local area and assist at events and talk about BAE as a company and the apprenticeship programme. There are also opportunities to join the sports teams such as the football team and the netball team.

Yes

Because it is a fantastic company that offer so many opportunities to people, the structure of the apprenticeship is really good and everything is gone through step by step so you can complete your NVQ to your full potential. You are offered guidance and support throughout to check you are getting the most out of your apprenticeship and you are happy. It is an amazing opportunity!

I would say to spend a lot of time on your original application, really consider all of your answers. I know the applications are really long but it really pays off to spend time on each of the questions. If you get sent the online tests to do make sure they are a true reflection of you get asked to do them again at the assessment day so if someone else has done them for you, you will be found out. Prepare for the assessment days as well as you can. Make sure you know lots of information about the company and you know exactly why you want to work for BAE.