Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

BAE Systems offers a solid apprenticeship with a great opportunities for an excellent career, providing employees with recognised qualifications and unbeatable industry experience, all while earning a competitive salary.

So far during my time as an apprentice, I have learned and developed many new skills. This ranges from things I have been taught in college as part of the apprenticeship, to networking and communications skills required to perform my job effectively. Interacting with people either through email, by phone, or speaking face to face at meetings is a vital part of my job, and the company has helped me greatly improve these important skills. In 1st year, we attended college exclusively 5 days a week and in this time we completed an HNC in Engineering Systems and an SVQ Level 2. Throughout 2nd and 3rd year we are completing an HND in Engineering Systems, and an SVQ Level 3. There are many courses available internally which all employees are free to go on. These range from training for systems used within the company, Health & Safety courses, to courses on how to use Microsoft Office effectively.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme, and I feel I have an excellent opportunity to build a career within the company. The experience in a production environment is invaluable, and helps to create a strong work ethic to ensure work is delivered on time and to a high standard. The company places a great emphasis on continuous professional development, and they are willing to support employees through Higher Education courses at University in order to improve their skills and progress themselves.

I feel a valued member of the team I work in. My work is regularly praised by my managers, and our training officer regularly visits us to see our progress, and pushes us all to perform to the best of our abilities. Every year apprentices from all years are nominated for an internal Apprentice of the Year award, as well as the Trades House of Glasgow Modern Apprentice of the Year. Apprentices are put on active projects and given real work to perform, currently involving design work on the QE Class Aircraft Carriers, and the upcoming Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

The programme is well structured from the very beginning, with the goals and expectations clearly set. Each year we are expected, and pushed, to surpass the achievements of the apprentices in the year before us, continually increasing the standards and expectations of the programme. We are supported by an Apprentice Manager, who we report to, as well as the manager of the team we work for, and further to this a Training Officer who regularly visits us. We are provided time each week to complete college work, study, and work on our SVQ log books with support readily available.

At college we had regular meetings every 12 weeks to discuss our progress and have any questions we had answered. The head lecturer of engineering was very involved with our training and helped us when required. The college was very keen to have the whole class pass with high marks, and actively worked towards this goal.

Our training officer provides us with all the support we need. As well as regularly visiting us, he is available by email or phone to answer any questions we have. The training officer is very willing to help us, and push us. Further to this, most people who you work with are more than willing to provide help when required.

The salary is very competitive, starting at around £9,500pa in 1st year, with a yearly increase up to around £28,000-£30,000pa once qualified. If you are required to work at another site, living and travelling expenses are provided. BAE Systems Naval Ships' two Scottish sites are currently both in Glasgow, with one in Scotstoun and another at Govan, and a shuttle bus operating regularly to transport employees between the two sites. Transport is good, with buses and trains servicing the areas regularly.

BAE Systems provides a variety of benefits for employees outside of the company. They offer up to a 20% discount on contracts with Vodafone for you and 5 family or friends. They also offer discounts at local leisure clubs. The company actively works with the local community to review the impact the work they carry out may have on the local community. They also work closely with an organisation known as STEMnet who work with schools to get school pupils involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths projects and employees can volunteer to help out at these events.

Yes

BAE Systems offers a solid apprenticeship with a great opportunities for an excellent career, providing employees with recognised qualifications and unbeatable industry experience, all while earning a competitive salary.

Spend some time on your application, carefully checking for spelling and grammar errors and have somebody proof read it. Before the interview, research a brief history of the company itself, along with some projects which the company has undertaken. It may be a good idea to ask the interviewer questions at the end of the interview if they ask if you have any, as this will make you appear more interested, so prepare some beforehand. At any assessment days, be prepared; dress smartly, and most importantly: be yourself and enjoy it. Even if you are unsuccessful, there is a lot to be learned from interviews and assessment days, and it's a good idea to request feedback as to why you weren't successful.