Technical Apprentice Review

3rd Year Technical Apprentice, Concept Demonstration, Advanced Projects. My Role involves demonstrating concepts for the advanced projects part of the company. I work a mix of at the computer and in the lab. I work with a small team and am responsible for my own projects. We work with internal and external costumers.

I am currently doing a HNC in Aeronautical Engineering and am hoping to go onto my HND in Aeronautical Engineering next year. I am also working on my Autodesk Inventor Professional User certificate. Internally I have done my working at high qualifications, First aid qualifications, Data Protection, Manual Handling and Education Ambassador.

I enjoy working with aircraft and my role gives me a 50/50 balance of office and shop floor jobs. I enjoy working on future products and new technology. The team I work in is always friendly and willing to support me in my work. It has met my expectations for a apprenticeship in BAE Systems.

I feel BAE Systems value each apprentice, we are treated like regular fully skilled employees. This makes the apprentices feel like they are part of the community in the company. Most employees have worked with or been apprentices in the past so they have roles that are applicable to help apprentices develop.

The program is structured in a good way. We start with a year of off site training wear we learn practical skills including, fitting, electrical, milling and turning and CAD. We then specialise into Technicians or Craft. We then go onto site and have placements around the company for the next 2-3 years. we then decide where we are going to finish and have a final placement to transition you between an apprentice and a skilled person.

We often have contact with our assessors. We have set meetings every 12 weeks to make sure that we are happy in our place of work. we also have a meeting at the start of the placements to ensure that everything is in place and then we also have a meeting to set a job pack for our NVQ in the middle of the placement.

Our managers are always supportive with our placements making sure we have work that is interesting and engaging. The HR team is always available if you need to talk to them. Our mentors keep constant contact with the apprentices. We have a good Accessibility support team that is available to help not just within the company but outside as well.

For Apprentices we get paid fairly well, It covers me to live in a rented house, we get all travel costs while on company time paid for. It allows for me to own a nice car and still have enough to have a social life. It covers all Daily costs.

There are plenty of outside opportunity's including a German exchange that allows apprentices to work in Germany for 3 weeks and German apprentices to come and work along side UK apprentices for the same amount of time. We are also involved in world skills a skill completions some times known as 'the skills Olympics'. there is also lots of other opportunity's including Innovation challenge and the princes trust. we can also represent the company at carers event ect.

Yes

I personally feel that BAE Systems offers one of the best apprenticeships in the country if gives apprentices a good start in there career and lots of transferable skills that are useful for outside work as well, it also gives you a high education level with the possibility of moving to a degree after.

Be yourself, the early careers team a BAE Systems need to see your personally as much as the qualifications you have. After Application you will be sent aptitude tests and Then possibly be invited to interview days include a interview , retest on the aptitude tests and a manual dexterity test. Application to offer can take a long time so be patient.