Business Apprentice (Procurement Engineer) Review

I am part of the BAE Systems Business apprenticeship scheme, specialising in Procurement. I am currently in my final role, put past roles have seen me enjoy a number of responsibilities. My most enjoyable role, and the role in which i will complete my apprenticeship is within supplier management. Within this placement I have daily interactions with suppliers, travel to other countries to meet them, get involved in development programmes and engage with senior members. I am responsible for six suppliers, ensuring orders are placed, equipment gets to the buildline and ensuring they are paid within terms - along with other actitivities.

The BAE Systems apprentice scheme encourages learning and development. Not only have i attended numerous courses and college, my social skills have deleloped too. I can hold a conversation with a supplier, getting my point across confidently. I have become more organised and conscientious with the work that i do. My favourite courses so far have involved working on the aircraft Hawk and Typhoon, to get familiar with them and learning about the equipment I buy and where it is located on the aircraft.

I enjoy coming to work, I also enjoyed attending college once a week. Throughout the 21 month programme I have been exposed to a variety of situations and have faced challenges. The variety of line managers that I have had have taught me different learning styles that I have had to adapt to- ultimately I can move around the business and work under different people adjusting the way that I work. The culture of the company is focused around achieving the objectives that the board set yearly- and my objectives set by my managers have directly linked one way or another into them, making me feel like I am making a difference and the work I am doing is important. I have never felt like an apprentice, but have felt like a member of staff. I did not know what to expect intially when I joined the company and the opportunities that were available to me. However I have been trusted with my own packages of work and given help when I have needed it which far outweighs expectations that I did have.

BAE Systems values it apprentices- most of the senior members on the board started as apprentices. All line managers that I have worked under have made sure that they have given me a good package of work and enough time to complete my NVQ. They have all been interested in the areas I have worked in, and praised me when I have done something well. I have had active participation in projects that have been ongoing, and some of my previous managers have contacted me to keep me up to date with the progress. I definetely feel as though I have been a valued member of the teams I have worked for.

The Business apprenticeship is structured to contain. - A two week induction -Three 4 month placements - A week away at an Outward Bound course - One month in a different function (ie finance). - Six months within final role before time completion. I would say that so far in the business i have had no problems with organisation and completion dates for my education and also inter-departmental work. I think all the apprentices here are organised well and always taken care of.

All apprentices on the Business scheme will report to a certain assesor who will be a point of contact at the apprentice training facility- there is also an internal point of contact for the scheme that we can report to. We are usually seen every couple of weeks with set dates for reviews but we often have a few visits by our head of training in and around this. I am glad with how all the support and training is going so far. I would like to be asked a few more questions of how i am and how everything is but we get this at our reviews anyway.

BAE Systems gives mass amounts of support to its apprentices- all team members have been willing to help me learn how to use systems as well as placing me on training courses to futher learn skills and put them into practice. I couldn't ask for any more help if i wanted too since we are seen by our instructor quite a lot and we are looked after very well and people always ensure we are on the right track and happy with the work we are doing. I am very happy and comfortable with the support given and i know i can go and see my trainer whenever i need help or have a problem i am stuck with.

The BAE Systems salary is above national UK Minimum wage and then some. I believe that the wage is very fair with regular pay increases, back pay, bonuses and a large completion salary with a guarenteed job at the end. What is more is that when we time complete for a further 12 months we get pay increases every quarter. I am very happy with what my starter salary was since, as mentioned, it is well above the UK minimum wage for apprentices so i can't really complain at all, especially since i know that a couple of my friends and relatives who have gone into apprenticeships are on the minimum wage and it is a whole lot less than my current salary so BAE definitely look after their apprentices well.

I have been invited to a number of corporate awards evening, team nights out and there are lots of sports clubs also. I am always involved and kept in email chains and invites for nights out in different departments i have worked in, so this is really nice to get to know people i work with in an informal and chatty way away from work. I have never been made to feel seperated from the company. I have also been asked to join and help out with a number of events and charity events that the company is involved with year-round and i really enjoy helping out in these too.

Yes

It is a fantastic well structured scheme. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying to BAE or any other engineering company. You learn quite a lot from BAE Systems and their apprenticeship scheme is definitely one of the best. The education is really worth it but there are so much more opportunities and events available when you join and there's always something to do here. You're instantly made to feel like part of the team and never left out of anything. I would definitely try hard to get into the scheme and look at the possibilities with working in BAE as well.

Attend an open evening to collect leaflets, listen to the advice the apprentices give. Write as much as you can about yourself and your qualities on your application - and express this in the interview. Do not recieve any help during the online testing. I would definitely say to be up to date on the company and look online at any deals with the company which have been made public. Ensure you know the basics of the company and the products we make. Also practice your interviewing skills and make sure you make the time to complete your online form. You will probably be tested on your math skills as well so brush up on basic algebra and conversion charts as well.