Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

As an engineering technician apprentice, I complete many activities which are not on a day to day basis, however there are some which fall under this criteria. I am currently in the Fleet Technical Services department, and a couple of my day to day activities are sending out an email in the morning showing tasks/queries which are due in the next few days, as well as compiling queries and formal responses.

I feel that my time at BAE Systems has helped me to learn and develop lots of new skills. I have developed a multitude of IT skills so far, which I feel will assist me throughout the rest of my apprenticeship and career. I feel that I have also developed my social skills and confidence since starting my apprenticeship.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship so far and look forward to the next couple of years. I feel I have developed greatly since starting here and genuinely feel that I make a contribution to the business. At times the workload may be stressful, however the satisfaction that comes when completing said workload greatly outweighs the original stress, and I must learn to deal with stressful situations as they are inevitable in my future career.

I feel like a valued member of the BAE Systems team, and that the company is heavily invested in me; I think that both me and the company have mutual benefit when it comes to my apprenticeship. The company makes a point of stressing the importance of having young people coming into the business, and I think this is reflected in the attitude of the standard BAE employee.

I feel that the programme I am on is very well structured and organised. The placements I go into are fully prepared to be able to entertain me/keep me busy, whilst still developing the skills I need to be a valuable employee to BAE Systems. By the end of my apprenticeship I will have a great general understanding of how the Brough site operates, and will feel confident going into whatever department I get a place in.

HETA have made it very clear that if at any point I have any troubles or qualms at all with how my qualifications are going, then they are always there to listen and will assist me in any way possible. Every week on my college day (Wednesday) there is a designated time for letting any issues be known to a member of staff, so that the correct actions can be taken to nullify the problem.

BAE Systems is very similar to HETA in the way that they advertise how willing and able they are to assist with any troubles. When it comes to my NVQ work, I am regularly checked up on to see how I'm getting along with it, and if at any point I'm struggling, I will not be searching for channels to make my grievances known, as there are so many obvious ones open to me.

I feel that my salary is large enough for me to comfortably get on with my life. It is easily enough to cover my food and travel expenses, as well as my board and lodgings with a bit left over to save and have fun with. However, I do not currently own a car and I live at home, so I could understand how people in different circumstances may struggle to get by every month.

I feel that BAE Systems offers lots of opportunities and activities outside of work - most of which I hear about through the site wide comms emails. Many of the events and activities the company puts on offer are for charity fundraising purposes - such as the foot golf tournament me and a few other apprentices attended. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and am actively keeping an eye out for similar events.

Yes

I would recommend BAE Systems as an employer because I feel that they care about their employees. There are so many support options available if I'm having trouble with anything, the vast majority of people on site are kind and helpful, the career path now opened to me is a prosperous one and I feel like I'm part of the BAE Systems team.

I would say one of the best qualities a potential employee can bring to BAE Systems is knowledge of, and a genuine interest in, the business itself. BAE Systems prides itself on its committed and invested workforce, and when applying for a job at BAE, there's a lot more that comes with it than just a job - you're joining a team of like minded people. If you show a prior knowledge/interest, then it shows the business that you're the kind of person who will do well at BAE Systems.