Technical Apprentice Review

My job role at Leonardo is a technical apprentice. Daily tasks include communicating with different employees both verbally and electronically, attending meetings and assisting with department tasks. It is my responsibility to seek work from the department I am working with and develop my knowledge of the business and products. Everyday is different in terms of work tasks as they can vary due to different projects.

Within this apprenticeship there is a lot of opportunity to learn new skills. In terms of qualifications I am working towards a HND in engineering systems, whilst also completing a SVQ level 3in engineering technical support. There is an online system on the company intranet in which internal training activities are advertised or can be requested as needed. On occasion there is opportunities to attend various workshops and courses external from the company- this includes site visits to sister companies. Personal development is also a big part of the apprenticeship where communication skills are developed and confidence is grown.

The apprenticeship program I am on at Leonardo is a thoroughly enjoyable program. Due to the rotational placement plan, apprentices move placements every 3 months which means a broader amount of knowledge can be gained over a scope of departments. The work I am given as an apprentice is to challenge my abilities and to help me develop. The teams I have worked with are always reliable and willing to help. the company meets my expectations in terms of a large scale defence company and values apprentices and the apprenticeship program.

As an apprentice at Leonardo I am valued by any department I work in. The apprentice manager values all apprentices as they help out with many internal and external events and are an asset to the company. in terms of individual work, this is recognised by department managers who appreciate the work you do to assist and help the department team. Each department gives apprentices various tasks and allows them to be involved in many different projects .

The apprenticeship program is very well structured. At the beginning of the program there is a 2 week induction to allow you to get to know more about the company, meet people who work here and to see what type of work you can be involved in. Training is given as per the job if needed, or as mentioned previously can be requested on the company intranet. A structured apprentice management team is also in place to support and organise placements for apprentices. There are monthly meetings for all apprentices so they can be briefed on any information and can volunteer for various events.

There is a good level of support from the training provider. The apprentice manager is a point of contact who will deal with any problems or queries. If you are showing levels of effort and interest then the attitude of the training provider to help is very good. this allows apprentices to develop there skills and knowledge. The training provider gives all apprentices guidance on what they should do with problems or queries. It is easy to get in touch with the training provider to ask them any questions.

The apprentice manager is always on hand to support questions and help with any general problems with the apprenticeship program. He is approachable and allows apprentices to contact him at any time. Support is always given by departments and supervisors who are training you in there field of work. They are always on hand to answer any questions and delegate tasks so that you are kept involved and are valued as part of the department.

The salary for the apprenticeship is moderate. Due to living costs in the central belt of Scotland, the monthly wage is taken up mostly by bills. As I travel to work from a distance travel costs as well as paying for maintenance and a mode of transport also takes up a good portion of the wage. However if you budget correctly then there should be no problem with having money left to have a good social life and having money left over.

Working at Leonardo, there are always events happening internally and externally. The company hosts various activities in which apprentices are asked to get involved in, this ranges from Scottish apprenticeship week to rampaging chariots and other organised internal events. Apprentices are always asked to promote the company by attending external events including school visits or science fairs. Apprentices are given opportunity's to become STEM ambassadors and volunteer to host and attend various events.

Yes

I would recommend Leonardo as a company to a friend to apply for the apprenticeship program. This is because I have first hand experience on what is involved in the program and how enjoyable it is. The events and activities apprentices can be involved in is a great opportunity and I believe that the people I know would like to work for this company. I would also recommend it to a friend as it is a great learning step to starting or progressing a career in engineering.

In terms of the application process I would say Leonardo need to give candidates more information on the company and the apprenticeship program, so that candidates can come heavily prepared for interviews. For assessment days, candidates are asked to do a engineering presentation - this should be clarified better by the company as to which aspects the candidate is being asked to cover. Over the course of the assessment day, more general discussion time with other apprentices and engineers would be more beneficial as they describe first hand experiences of working for the company.