Mechanical Maintenance Apprentice Review

3rd Year Mechanical Maintenance Apprentice, working on a nuclear power station. Days starts with a safety message/discussion, then a pre-job brief/setting to work on the jobs for the day/week. This can range from removing, overhauling and refitting a valve to special projects, which last between 3-4 weeks, such as an fuel machine nose unit exchange. These jobs sometimes require engineering support, permits to work, and other teams assistance, so interactions and communications are very important. Everyday involved a new situation to overcome, and most jobs have problems to solve, so everyday I have learnt something new.

Since starting my apprenticeship, I've gained my NVQ Level 3, and currently working towards my HNC in Engineering. I have gained skills and knowledge about different type of valves, pumps, bearing, heat exchangers, etc. and am slowly getting an understanding of how the power station works. I have gained bench fitting skills, and was able to manufacture claw clamps, G-clamps, centre finders, a puzzle, V-blocks and also a gyroscope, using my hand tool skills but also using machining skills on the lathes, milling machines and pillar drills. While working on site, I have taken part in courses such as LOLER, working at height courses and most recently, gained my pendant crane qualification. There is a range of courses available that will enable me to expand my knowledge and my ability to do different jobs at work, that range from rigging and slinging to radiation monitoring.

The apprenticeship has surpassed my expectations, in that I have gained more knowledge and qualifications than I had thought and the job is more enjoyable than I expected. The company is a very nice company to work for, they are very supportive and provide nationally recognised qualifications, which means if I ever leave the company, my skills and qualifications will be transferable. I thoroughly enjoy my job and look forward to learning more about different jobs and increase my knowledge and skills within the workplace. In my first 2 years of my apprenticeship, a life skills programme was part of the curriculum. This included planning life skills trips to different countries, experiencing different cultures and seeing different power stations. In my 2nd year, I was able to plan a 5 day trip to 4 different countries seeing different places of interest and enabling me to feel I would be able to plan a trip outside of work.

As an apprentice at the moment, I don't feel very valued by the company, but within my team, I feel very valued and supported. I have taken part in special projects such as the refurbishment of the site flask handling locomotive, which took around 8 weeks to complete, and recently, taken part in a fuel machine nose unit exchange and have learnt a lot in that time, so I will be able to possibly take lead or support where needed next time this job happens. I feel supported and valued within my team as I feel they want the best for me and I myself, have shown I am willing to work and learn.

I feel the programme is well structured from before getting onto the apprenticeship. My apprentice co-ordinator visits many schools and colleges to tell people about this apprenticeship, so many people know the benefits and what you get out of being on the apprenticeship. While in the first 2 years of the apprenticeship, I felt very supported by the tutors and instructors and they helped and guided me through the work that needed to be completed. I had 3 monthly reviews with my tutor to see what I am doing well and what needs to be improved, but also what I would like to achieved before the next review. While on site currently, I feel that if I require some time to complete my HNC work, that I am able to do that without any problem. Also, while now on site, I have appraisals with my team leader, but also reviews with my co-ordinator making sure I am where I am meant to be with the programme and also letting my team leader know what training I feel I require or want to do.

In my first 2 years of the apprenticeship, my training provider was Babcock International. The tutors/instructors were very support and guided me through my assignments and training while down there. They provided all tools and equipment that were needed to learn any bench fitting skills and had access to the Royal Navy workshops which were full of machines, tools, test rigs, parts of plant, engines, gearboxes, and other equipment that we were required to learn about. While on site, my training provider is EDF itself. This is through working on different parts of plant. They also provide any training that is needed and these are very helpful internal and/or external instructors that again, make the courses memorable and provide a simple, understandable course. Again, regular meetings and reviews are conducted to ensure you are on track for achieving the highest award for that piece of work.

Again, EDF itself is providing the training and support. This support mostly comes from the technicians in my team and my team leader. As stated before, I feel they are very supportive and want the best for myself and want to help and see me grow into a top technician. If higher support is needed, or specialist support is needed, then I know it is there for me and easy to approach. I haven't had much involvement with the HR team, but have heard they are very supportive, approachable and very helpful.

While in the first 2 years of the apprenticeship, we had accommodation away from home in Portsmouth on a Royal Navy base. While down there, all accommodation, food and work transport was provided, so my monthly wage was my spending money. This meant I was able to save for a car so when I came on site, I would be able to drive to and from work. Now back on site after the 2 years, I currently live at home with my parents but am now paying board, and other bills such as phone, car insurance, health care and yet still have enough to be able to save for any holidays or other activities I would like to do. Each year in the apprenticeship is a increase in pay and once out of my time, I will be able to buy a house and the pay will keep increasing for a few years after graduating. From an apprentice point of view, the pay is much higher per hour than other engineering apprenticeships.

Opportunities range from sporting teams taking part in local, national and international events completing against other company staff from different parts of the world. There are charity events that the company will help sponsor. Also company activities that take place which don't require much work or time, but means that your name is out there and you may be asked to help next time. when in Portsmouth, a professional personal trainer was available to ask about different sports and also helped communications between yourself and local out of work sports teams. The PT also ran activities each night, ranging from gruelling circuit training to writing personal training plans to follow to see improvement from day one. I joined a local Sea Scout group which meant I was able to successfully complete my RYA Safety body qualification which is a nationally recognised qualification and also meant that I had opportunities to provide safety cover for some national events that took part out of Portsmouth harbour.

Yes

I feel that there is no other apprenticeship that provides the same level of training, opportunities, and salary as EDF does. Within the apprenticeship, I have had the opportunities to travel abroad and see international power stations, different cultures and experience life in different countries. I have also been paid while learning, rather than paying to learn at a university. Along with these benefits, I know that at the end of my apprenticeship, I have a bigger chance of getting a job in the field I have been working in. While in Portsmouth, I met people of all ages from different power stations from around the country- from Scotland to East Anglia. There are endless opportunities to move around in the company, and not just within the power station you are at, there is opportunities to move abroad and work on different power stations. While in portsmouth, you are able to learn basic life skills such as washing clothes, time management with assignments, and even simple things such as getting a bus into town instead of driving, etc.

My advice is to revise as much as you can about how the power stations work, what is happening with the company (where power stations are, history of the stations, etc.) and to visit the visitor centres as you can ask the staff questions you cant find online, and also take a tour around the power station if that is possible. Try get some work experience for a week on site, see what it is like. On assessment days, just be yourself, it is better to be yourself rather than try and act like the person you think the company wants to employ. Finally, if you are unsuccessful the first time of applying, ask for feedback and then apply the year after. EDF like to see people try again as they recognise that you want the job.