Mechanical Aeronautical Engineering Apprentice Review

I am an Apprentice mechanical aeronautical engineer, on day to day jobs i maintain and service military aircraft and complete the writen format for my NVQ, i interact with both civilian contractors and RAF personel on a daily basis. my responsabilities include, ensuring that the procedures are followed and that maintainence practicies are adhered to.

during my time at BAE Systems i have been on multiple extra courses as well as the NVQ level 3, this inlcude, mech to tech programme, forward line trainning, and multiple internal training and authorisations to enable me to be efficient within my role on base. i have learnt a great deal about engineering and the company in the time i have spent working for BAE systems and it is a great apprentiship scheme.

I believe that the programme is exeptional, the work is brilliant and i enjoy coming to work every day, the people and the teams are accomodating and have made me feel welcome and comfortable every step of the journey. the company is very compationate and supportive for any issues that may occur and will provide priase when praise is due. I feel that this programme is one of the best programmes that i have seen provided as the length of time to complete and the pay during the apprentiship is highly competitive. the programme has so far surpased any of my expectations and seems to keep on giving, the opportunities that are available once the apprentiship has been completed is deffinatly a brilliant prospect. I am deffinatly enjoying my time on the apprenticeship scheme with BAE Systems and i am looking forward to my future career with the company.

the management and the company has made me feel comfortable and supported me in everything that i have done within the company so far, and people will go out of their way to help if there are any issues. i have already been selected to attend multiple extra courses, and it is a brilliant feeling to be able to represent BAE Systems on external run courses. there is sometimes an issue with communication within the company where it does take some time to get answers etc but due to the size and scale of BAE Systems this is to be expected.

the programme here at RAF Marham is structured brilliantly, the NVQ assesor that is here is exceptional and the trainning package that we have been given is laid out in a brilliant fassion. any recomendations that our cohort has had with regards to adjustments to the trainning scheme, have been evaluated and implimented by BAE Systems.

the support by BAE Systems and from LRTT through the apprenticeship has been brilliant, any problems that have been encountered have been efficiently rectified.

all of the management, and the support here on base has been second to none, the management whilst on base through my NVQ assesor or my line manager has been brilliant. they will go out of their way to help in any situation they can.

due to this being an apprentiship scheme, on the scale of the rest of the apprentiship schemes that are running in the country, the pay/ salary is very good. when studying in doncaster, the pay was excelent, as accomodation and transport was provided. once we moved to our deployment on base, the wage did increase slightly, but we are expected to find our own places to live and provide our own transport. this can sometimes be a strain, and the majority of my wage is used on living costs, paying rent, food, travel etc. but due to this only being a 2 year programme, and having 6 monthly pay rises, the pay in relation to other apprentiships is brilliant.

Due to me living in Norfolk, there are not many opportunties out side of work to become involved in the local area, there are gyms and sports clubs in the local area, but there is very little veriaty due to the area. it could take a fair amount of travel to become involed in specialist clubs and activities. but outside of work, i am involved in car owners clubs and shows, i attend the local gym and i am looking to join more local clubs in the local area.

Yes

i would deffinatly recomend an apprentiship with BAE Systems to anyone, the opportunities that BAE Systems offer are second to none, and the the qualifications that can be gained are respectable within the aviation world.

ensure that you brush up on your maths and physics, and explain to the company why you are passionate about working with the company, you dont neccessarily need to be interested in aircraft to wow at an interview, but if you are accepted, work hard and show your worth, dont think that its like school it will not benefit you being the top of the class, you will get noticed if you shine and the opportunities are endless with BAE Systems.