Engineering technician apprentice Review

I am an engineering technician apprentice currently completing 2 NVQs due to the specialised job role I am working towards. My role involves making bespoke projects from start to finish, which can include conventional machining, NC machining (turning and milling), welding, hand fitting techniques and woodworking depending on the project. This is as part of a small team of model makers.

I have learnt a lot of machining techniques, including conventional machining with the use of sine bars, sine tables, tilting the head and so on. I have been on training courses for basic welding (MIG and TIG) and for lifting and slinging. I have also learned a number of finishing techniques. I have mostly learned to take my time with the jobs I am completing and to be more thorough with my planning.

I enjoy the job role I am within, along with learning new skills that are useful within the workplace as well as may be useful outside of the workplace in a small workshop. The qualifications I am on track to receiving will help me whether I stay within the company or go elsewhere. The team I work with is excellent and very friendly and helpful. I even have enjoyed some of the things I learn at college.

With feeling like part of the team within my job role this helps to make you feel valued, whenever a project is successful there is a comment from the manager thanking the staff for their hard work and making us feel valued. Internal recognition is very good with the number of awards that are possible to receive as part of the apprenticeship. External recognition is also possible through other schemes as apprentice of the year.

Induction was a little late into the department but that was due to the lack of apprentices through the department in the recent past. The induction was useful, the training has been excellent and there is always support available if required. The college side of the course could be organised slightly better as we can have times where we find out we have an exam coming up on the following week.

Support is always available if required, in most things I feel I do not need support but there are times when I have been required to ask for assistance or clarity on a task I am to complete as part of the NVQ. The support is always available should it be required. Any problems are handled as quickly as possible.

Support from my employer is also always available should it be needed whether it is due to a personal issue or a work issue. There was no mentoring available to myself but it has been put in place for lower years. An excellent attitude to support overall from my employer. There is also training undertaken that can highlight the availability of support in all matters.

Travel costs are a bit expensive for me but that is due to a personal choice to live where I do, which necessitates a long commute. It meets my living costs well and allows me to save for the future while still being able to have a social life and go out. It will only get better as I progress through the apprenticeship.

There are many opportunities available, such as company sports teams, company events such as supporting STEM events as a voluntary activity. There is plenty of opportunities to support the new apprentices coming into the apprenticeship such as going on outward bound or being a mentor. There are leisure and sports clubs available to BAE staff. However due to my location most of these are quite far away.

Yes

It is an excellent workplace, with plenty of support available to the apprentices and to the employees once they have left the apprenticeship. Being paid to gain a qualification is an excellent bonus and it sets you up for a long career in the industry. As well as just being a friendly and enjoyable work environment.

To work hard on their application due to the large numbers of applicants compared to the relatively small number of successful applicants. To be prepared and ready for the tasks on the assessment days. There's always next year as many applicants apply multiple times.