Business Apprentice Review

I am a Business Apprentice at Leonardo. Every 4 months my placement rotates and I move into the various business related areas of the company, such as finance, procurement etc. Day to day I provide support to my placement team and I am often involved in projects that span across various departments which allows me to interact with people from all different areas of the company, and also interact with any external customers. I get the opportunity to attend external meetings, and also get involved with various STEM and school events.

I have attended numerous training courses since I have started the apprenticeship. Some training courses I have attended include cross-cultural training, finance training, and first aid training. I am currently studying a Level 3 NVQ which will be the main qualification I gain upon completion of the apprenticeship. I feel that my communication skills have increased massively. I have improved upon my ability to talk to new people and to communicate efficiently to allow for effective business practice. My timekeeping skills have also improved and I have learnt how to manage my time better overall.

Overall, I do enjoy my apprentice programme. Every placement I have done so far has been rewarding and every employee is happy to help. The teams I have so far been involved with have been supportive and very friendly. Company culture is very good and the flexibility they provide in terms of a work/life balance is outstanding. The apprenticeship generally met my expectations throughout.

I feel well valued by Leonardo. The apprentice scheme is highly publicised and well regarded by all employees as there are many who started as apprentices themselves who are now years into their career. I have regular reviews in which my manager is able to give me feedback and show appreciation for my work.

My programme is generally well structured. I have a placement rotation plan to provide structure for the duration of the apprenticeship. I also have a personal mentor to help me with my NVQ work who is brilliant and a massive help to me. I also have regular reviews with my manager to check my progress and if any changes regarding any aspect of my apprenticeship need to change, that is possible.

Since my apprenticeship is on site full time, this question is not overly applicable to me. The Business Apprentice scheme doesn't currently involve any off site learning such as at a college, as I am expected to complete my NVQ in my own working time.

I receive most of my NVQ support from my NVQ mentor/assessor. She is incredibly helpful and we meet every 2 weeks so I can hand her any completed work and we can go through any work I have given her in the previous meeting. She is always willing to answer any questions I have and help as much as she can. I can ask for help from any employee in the company should I need it and I am sure they will be happy to help.

I feel my salary is generous for an apprentice scheme. Generally, I can afford all of living, travel and any day to day costs. The one improvement I might suggest is some sort of petrol money reimbursement for my travel to work as petrol is one of my biggest outgoings from my drive to work - and I know many people who travel much further than I do and have to spend a lot more on their travel.

There are lots of opportunities outside of work. Leonardo holds a lot of sport and social events that take place regularly and we are actively encouraged to take part. I also take part in a lot of school events such as careers fairs. Teams within work also sometimes go for lunches or drinks after work together.

Yes

The work/life balance flexibility is a big factor for me. The ability to have flexible hours is brilliant and means I can still enjoy my home life. Also, the apprenticeship in general is very positive and supportive and the opportunity to gain a qualification and a job whilst earning money is a great idea. Leonardo particularly is very active in improving and developing the apprentice scheme so it is constantly evolving and providing exciting opportunities.

Apply via the website. If you make it to assessment days, be yourself and show passion for the things you genuinely enjoy (such as a sport or hobby). You don't need much experience of the industry, but an understanding of the type of things we do will probably be beneficial to you - not masses of detail but just the information you see on our website to give you some background. Don't just try and tell them what you think they want to hear, be yourself and show them who you are and show off your good qualities.