Engineering Higher Apprentice Review

My role as a 1st year engineering higher apprentice currently consists of attending a technical engineering college to achieve a HNC in Mechanical Engineering, compressed to 1 year. While this can be challenging at times the overall benefit is pushing you to achieve. My daily interaction are mostly with other engineering apprentices from both BAE and other companies as well as lectures.

As previously mentioned I am currently completing a HNC in Mechanical Engineering. Along side this, as part of the apprenticeship, I am completing a PEO Level 2. Upon completion of the 1st year I will be starting a HND, on day release, for a further 2 years. By the end of the apprenticeships I will have also achieved a NVQ Level 4. While this can be challenging I feel this pushes me to improve the standard of my work.

I am enjoying the apprenticeship so far as our group of apprentices get along very well with each other and our lecturers. I am looking forward to starting to take on some responsibility when I start placements upon completing my HNC. The culture of the company is great and there is always someone ready to answer any questions I have.

As I am attending college full time for the first year there is a bit of a detachment from the company. However, whenever possible our manager and other Higher Apprentices further ahead in there apprenticeship include us in activities and events.

My programme is well structured with many years of experience with running apprenticeships and working in partnership with educational institutes. This ensures that while we have a busy timetable we have appropriate support and time to complete everything.

The technical engineering college we attend is always willing to listen if we have any issues or problems and address it to the best of there ability. As the college has recently partnered with University of Portsmouth they are looking for our feedback to ensure that our course is suitably taught and assessed.

As previously mentioned as we are at college full time there is a bit of a detachment from the company. However, we regularly hear from our manager and other BAE apprentices. We also have a review every 12 weeks where we can raise any concerns we have.

The Salary is excellent and above average and covers the cost of my rent and bills easily. The travel costs are quite low as I am close to both the college and my place of work. The location itself is not hugely expensive both in housing and general costs like fuel.

Due to our studies during the first year there are not many opportunities outside of work. However, we have participated in an industry boat challenge, where we built a remote controlled speed boat and raced against other industry partners. we have also supported the company at a STEM event held at our college.

Yes

The Apprenticeship provides a constant challenge to improve yourself we a wide variety of opportunists at the end of the apprenticeships. They also have years of experience supporting apprenticeships with several higher ups in the company being former apprentices themselves

Relax and be yourself as they are looking at your potential not your current skills.