Technical Design Office Apprentice Review

I'm currently a design office technician apprentice at Siemens Industrial Turbo machinery and this involves me moving around different departments to gain the relevant experience as well as working towards the necessary qualifications. My daily tasks can vary but as a overview they are to complete drawing changes, change documents and ensure workflow has commenced; alongside this project work is also give to me and I am required to take on the responsibility, but to clarify any issues I may have

Initially in my first year I attended college full time to complete my Level 2 PEO NVQ whilst also undertaking part time a Level 3 BTEC in mechanical engineering; in the second year I completed this. Currently, I'm in my third year working towards my HNC which is an additional qualification that has been offered and alongside this I am coming towards the completion of my level 3 NVQ within the workplace. All training courses regarding health and safety and that affect job roles are allocated to us. I have gained knowledge in a theoretical sense as well as practically on the job.

I enjoy the work as it enables me to work independently and gain the necessary skills for a future career; this allows me to work well with my team and they can further their knowledge onto myself. The company itself is very supportive as a whole and it has met my expectations as a professional and opportunistic organization. It's good to feel part of a team, not only within the apprenticeship, but within Siemens.

I feel quite well valued as a lot of emphasis is put both on both the apprenticeship and graduate schemes. Once again as a whole I think the company values us, but I'd appreciate some more feedback from my superiors when I get a good review in a placement for example or when I participate in events. There is feedback given in internal reviews, but this is just mainly to check that I'm on track and ideally it'd be good to hear praise when we're exceeding expectations. As a whole I have been valued in the sense that we're guided through the program and given the support/respect within the workplace.

The induction at the beginning was good as it provided expectations from both management and within the organization. Once again all training is provided and we have been supported throughout the years we have worked here. I think the layout of qualifications is good and the opportunity to progress onto higher education is available providing it is supported with a reason and we are willing to study further. The only criticism I would say which may have changed since I started would be to further explain the layouts of the NVQ and the scoring system/what can be accepted in our annual review as being complete; I say this as in the past there has been confusion, particularly in the earlier stages of the NVQ.

The support is there in terms of guidance through the program, but generally we learn/adapt to working independently and don't need additional support which is offered when needed. We have both placement and annual reviews to ensure our progress is sufficient. A lot of support is given to us in booklets/contacts to go to when needed at the beginning of the program. Most problems can normally be resolved via email or a quick discussion in our reviews.

My manager/HR team once again generally doesn't need to have a huge influence/support me as much as is offered; this is because we are able to get on with a lot of jobs/shown how to work independently.

I left school initially once I'd completed my GCSE's so the salary reflected very well as I was certainly more appreciative towards it. It isn't entirely necessary at my current age and salary I'm at due to living at home/expenses being low and living locally; however it is still really good to have the salary as you know its there and can begin to plan your future finances, whilst also giving yourself some economic security. There has been an issue with back pay/completion of NVQ's previously, but once again I think this isn't entirely necessary to get caught up in as the pay rises are generous as they are, especially for my age group/ability level.

I tend to volunteer if I'm available for work related events both internally and externally. This included things such as open days, discussions and projects with local schools to encourage engineering at a younger age and give an idea for future careers. This is good as it further gives you a chance to work with different people and feel a sense of achievement. Siemens as a company also give benefits as part of one of their schemes which enable you to participate in activities, for example gym memberships at a reduced rate, cycle to work scheme, etc. The opportunity of the apprenticeship is good as it's a big step up from school, but one that was worth taking.

Yes

As a summary of the previously discussed issues, it allows you to work towards a range of qualifications whilst giving you on the job experience which can shape a future career. It gives a good variety of social skills that wouldn't have otherwise been available/limited studying A-levels/going to university. I think the salary is generous and it's well structured to allow you to pursue what career path you'd like. Furthermore, I would give a positive review as a reflection of my experience so far within the company.

I would advise them to ensure their application is sufficient and professional and to prepare for the interview process. I would also encourage them to re-apply if not successful first time around and to participate in useful activities and qualifications that would make them appealing to employ. Work experience within Siemens would also be beneficial as it shows interest/passion from an early age. I think I was told the relevant information and the application process was conducted in a professional and, looking at the vast variety of apprentices, it was fair with regards to equality.