Mechanical Apprentice Review

I am currently in my final placement as a mechanical technician apprentice. This job entails various 3D modelling tasks of various components and assemblies. I tend to update these components and assemblies and a lot of design work where new products are in the prototype stages. I enjoy the variety of work i get and it is well suited to my likes and skills i already have.

yes, I have just gained my SVQ level 3 internally through the company and I have also attained an HNC and am currently waiting on my results of the HND in engineering systems I have just finshed. I hope to also achieve a degree at the end of my apprenticeship ans at the start of my full time career in the company. I have picked up some smaller skills too such as learning more about health and safety etc.

I enjoy working in this department because it has a large apprentice orientated work force, there are currently 2 final year apprentices, 2 time served apprentices and 2 1st or 2nd year apprentices in the department. I like this atmosphere because then i can talk with experiences other apprentices or past apprentices have had and the team in which I work is extremely helpful and friendly too.

Through my time as an apprentice I felt the longer I had been in the company and the more I contributed, the more I would be valued and noticed, upon gaining my final placement I have achieved recognition from various managers. I also get a lot of feedback from other employees as they know i am an apprentice and in need of feedback to help me through my apprenticeship.

The apprentice programme in Leonardo is extremely well structured and as of mid-2017 it will cater for more than 50 apprentices. They help us through college and internal qualifications to ensure that we get the most out of our apprenticeship scheme. Overall i have only minor problems to mention of my own personal experiences with the scheme but overall it's very well organised and structured.

The support received from the training provider is outstanding, all through the external qualifications we sit, PEO, HNC and HND, we are given plenty of time to revise in work for tests at the discretion of our departments and due to the large amount of apprentices in years above you, there is always a helping hand that has done what you have done. I am overall fairly happy with the outcome of my training provider and what they have given me.

The support received from the company is outstanding, all through the external qualifications we sit, PEO, HNC and HND, we are given plenty of time to revise in work for tests at the discretion of our departments and due to the large amount of apprentices in years above you, there is always a helping hand that who has done and been through what you have done and been through.

The pay at Selex is very competitive compared to other apprenticeship schemes however, the wages start of quite low. Saying that, as you progress through the years at the company the wages rapidly increase to a good wage come your time served as an apprentice. Living in Edinburgh can be very expensive though so I think more needs to be done to increase the wages throughout the apprenticeship scheme.

yes there are many opportunities to travel around, the company itself helps out at the Edinburgh science festival every year and the apprenticeship scheme is also presenting at various schools and colleges to try and promote apprenticeships in general and engineering too to a younger audience. I think these schemes are great and im happy to help out with them too.

Yes

The scheme is very competitive and the company is well known for its quality of work and the opportunities that can arise when progressing through the ranks of the company. I think that anyone joining will not be disappointed with the work they do and the skills they get throughout the apprenticeship too. I would definitely say to any young person that an apprenticeship is a great opportunity.

Ensure that you have a good knowledge of the companies history before applying and also that you enjoy engineering and have a good understanding of the main engineering roles such as mechanical, electrical, software, industrial etc. Ensure if you get to an interview stage that you dress smart and come early/on-time to the interview as well. You should act friendly and polite towards the interviewers as well.