Engineering Apprentice Review

My role is an engineering apprentice. Day to day I am treated like any other employee and expected to act like one which is good there is nobody treated differently. I am always working with someone who will allow me to take on some of their work and will show me the right way to do it. Every 3 months I move department and this has meant that I have gotten to learn every area of the company from building circuit cards to learning how to provide the engineering behind this. I not only have these responsibilities but am currently running the work experience programme along with some other apprentices. There are different events that we get sent on to schools, parliament, awards events etc. and these mean that we get to network with a large number of people both in and out of the company, not only this but we get to inspire young people and tell them about our journey which is something I wish I had been told about when I was younger. We also get given apprentice projects to keep us busy and interacting with each other these involve coming up with various ideas and trying to put them into practice.

I have not completed any engineering qualifications before this apprenticeship and have now completed my BTEC level 3 in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and I am about to finish my HNC in Electronic and Electrical Engineering this year, next year I will be undertaking a HND in the same field. I have achieved both my NVQ level 2 and level 3 and can later complete my level 4 if I wish. I have been on several training courses internally and externally some necessary but not so exciting such as health and safety and some more exciting such as the 'what is a missile?' course and an electronic design course. I have developed skills from our 'life skills' training courses too, the first of which developed my team working, confidence and leadership and the second developed things like my project management and presentation skills. I have learnt a million and one things from working in the company, I have learnt how to build a circuit card, how to build a missile and all the stages in between such as testing and inspecting, I have learnt the engineering side too such as test engineering, quality, process engineering and manufacturing engineering. Through this I have learnt how to use various pieces of software that I had never even heard of before I started working here such as SAP, PDM, Matrix, Visio etc. I am given advice form everyone I work with and I learn something new every day.

I love my programme. I have always got on with everyone I have worked with bar from literally a couple (you will never get on well with every single person). I think there is a real sense of our site in Bolton being one big family with the atmosphere always being friendly and welcoming. The work is not always extremely interesting but the majority of the time it is and this programme has exceeded my expectations.

I feel like a valued member of the team in every department I work in, I am always given work and it always feels like this work is helping other people achieve the end goal of the finished product delivered on time. I feel valued outside of the company as I have been put forward and put myself forward for awards and got the EEF Outstanding First Year Apprentice of the Year National Runner Up at the end of my first year which to me just shows I am recognised outside of the company for my hard work. Within the company you do not always get recognised but this year and last year I have been sent to the company's recognition awards which shows that although you are not always knowing you are being recognised for your hard work you still are being recognised.

The introduction and training has always been extremely well organised and the structure in place means that we always have the same introduction and it is useful although at some points can be boring. The support is above and beyond, we have meetings monthly to discuss where we are working and if everything is going okay and to discuss any issues we are having. We have a mentor system in place but this is not something that you automatically get, you can go to someone and ask them to be your mentor and then get in touch with our manager and discuss it with them. Before each placement commences we have to meet with our new manager and sort out some objectives, the objectives are what you will be carrying out throughout the placement and gives you something to aim for. Although it is very well organised some managers are extremely busy and do take a while to sort out your objectives but in the mean time you're not stopped you just work with someone and they will train you up on things.

I have found that getting support from our college is difficult as our college tutors are not great but this is improving and has been improving over the past year. We are increasingly getting support if we ever need it. A good example is that some people are behind with some classes for various reasons but with organisation between the company and college those people were able to go into college during half term to catch up on some work. Alliance learning are much more helpful that do our NVQ they are very easy to get hold of and you get useful answers to your questions very quickly. The general attitude towards supporting us and towards any problems from both the college and alliance learning is good and improving which for future apprentices is what you need really. I have loved college and my course because it has been so interesting for me so if you're willing to put the work in the teachers are willing to help.

I have received a lot of support from my employer, my manager is always a phone call away if she isn't at your site and always works to help you with any issues you have or with anything you need to know. I haven't had any dealings with the HR team but know that they are extremely friendly and helpful.

My salary has always met my costs above and beyond. Since working here I have always had a brand new car which I have paid for everything for, I have always been able to go out and socialise as much as I want because I can always afford it and I have recently moved into my own home paying all my own bills etc.

There are lots of opportunities outside of work, there is the charity challenge team which organises lots of charity events and these always end up into social events too. There are also events organised by the company too such as the open day at the new Bolton site where we could bring our families around the site and tonight there is the celebration of 80 years of the company and we are having a big meal and celebration which is organised by the company. There are lots of events in the nearby towns and different things you can take part in if you want to.

Yes

I would recommend this company to a friend because I love working here and if you love what you do then you never work a day in your life. I know that anyone who is interested in electronic engineering would love to work here and I would always want someone who was looking at apprenticeships to end up in a good one and not a bad one where they use you for cheap labour. Here you are a valued member of the team and you actually mean something to the company which is always an important thing.

I would say make sure you read the application form properly and get someone to check it before you send it, put as much information in as you can and big yourself up. In the interview it's important to make sure that you are not too nervous, do practice ones beforehand with someone and do your research. Also, in the interview don't be afraid of pauses if you need to think of something just say 'just let me think about that a second'. I would like to have been told to make sure you make the most of every opportunity that arises and if you really can't do something just speak up, you're not expected to know everything already.