Technician Review

Preparing products/teams for trials activities to ensure the successful collection & analysis of data. Usually I am preparing products to be integrated into airframes or creating the supporting documentation to allow us to get suitable accreditation and leave the proper paper trails. Physical or desk based work depending on the current need.

I have learned a lot of important skills via my on-site activities to fit in line with working in an engineering environment and to apply proper safety precautions. All basic skills are covered on a day to day basis covering things such as operating test equipment and using engineering tool kits.

My daily work is usually quite enjoyable as I have a lot of freedom in what I am currently doing with very flexible deadlines. This allows me to split up my work days and balance jobs I really enjoy with some of the more routine document based work keeping me stimulated.

I feel valued by my department within the company as they have provided me with a lot of training opportunities and always try to get me involved with new projects that can prove beneficial to me in the future. They also allow provide me with proper work that gets me involved with the business more.

The programme is to strictly structured from the apprentice management team who are very reluctant to do things such as swapping placements on the rotational form. This means, for example, someone who is never going to have a job in software can spend 6 months completing software based placement work, due to what seems like a reluctance to take on any extra hassle.

I receive enough support from my training provider who gives me ample opportunity to raise any issues or problems I am having. I am allocated enough time to complete any work set and on the most part it has been pretty easy to complete over the course of my apprenticeship thus far.

My employer offers me plenty of support and there are several people around the business who I can approach for any help I require to complete both college and on site work. I am also given regular meeting to review my progress and raise any issues or problems I am currently having.

My salary on the apprentice scheme is at a good level to meet my current costs. Part of the programme however is being placed on an accelerated pay scheme which raises your salary over the course of 2-3 years up to the level which I would be getting paid if I came in externally on the same band level. This seems unfair.

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in outside of work to promote the business and the scheme we are on, in some cases these are pushed a bit too hard on us and it becomes almost mandatory. Sometimes you just don’t have the time. Volunteering should remain exactly that, voluntary.

Yes

I would recommend Leonardo to a friend as it is a very stable business with a huge range of work and products meaning it provide a steady, stable income at a reasonably competitive rate. They also provide further training if you are prepared to work for it giving you more opportunities to develop and become more valuable to the company.

Do enough research into the company to have a basic understanding of what they do and see if you are inclined to take part in this line of work. Ask a lot of questions to learn as it’s quite a specialist area and people will take on board the interest shown.