
Rating
- 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
- 4. How valued do you feel by Arriva?
- 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
- 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
- 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
- 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
- 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
- 9. Would you recommend Arriva to a friend?
- 9b. Why?
- 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arriva?
I was an apprentice engineer for a heavy vehicle company located in the Medway towns in Kent, my role was to work beside experienced and qualified engineers and technicians to service vehicles used on a day to day basis for public transportation.
I studied motor vehicle in college so when I got involved with working in a garage for heavy vehicles, the experience was daunting at first but I quickly adapted to the environment I worked in, and also the people I worked besides on a day to day basis.
To work in a big garage was an outstanding experience. I met many people I highly enjoyed to learn from, and every day I had learnt a new skill I could use to challenge my motoring skills in the future if I ever decided to open my own garage maybe in light vehicle.
At first I felt that I was singled out because I was a teenager in this big mans world. But once I got a chance to meet the crew who has created this environment, they had welcomed me into this World of respect and helped me step into man hood. So all in all I felt like I was highly values by everyone there.
The programme was not as organised as I had expected it to be, I had never worked properly before and as an apprentice I had expected more theory time but to spend eighty percent of the time doing practical work was a huge benefit to me.
They had supported me every step of the way. From point A through to point B. I was always offered help and was always assessed on the tasks I was handed and every job I went away and carried out. And on the theory side, I was always having a tutor give me that extra hand.
As for my employer, he was brilliant with offering me help I really needed. I had issues outside if the work place and he offered me help. I had an injury and he set me up with occupational therapy which was a great deal to my self and my career.
I am not currently on the greatest salary but after a while, hopefully I will be making enough of a salary to find my own nice little flat or maybe a house, i can now afford to pay off phone bills and for food and clothes, but I will soon look into buying a home with my partner.
I am on a 38 hour contract which gives me plenty of time for activities away from work. With the experience I have gained, I have used my skills to help build my own vehicle in my garden and make a small bit of money helping friends and family woth there cars and bikes. With the hours I work, I haveplenty of time away from work to focus on myself and my family.
Yes
An apprenticeship is the greatest choice I have made. Being paid to learn is a great way to convince secondary school / college graduates to gain extra qualifications whilst working in a proper working environment. The apprenticeship scheme is brilliant and I had wished I had taken this opportunity sooner. It will make a huge impact on youngers lives.
Keep your attendance and punctuality as high as you possibly can, because with the apprentice scheme, you could potentially have a huge job offfer at the end when you qualify into whatever field you have chosen. Also, apply as early as you can. That gives you that smaller push to succeeding a placement in the scheme.
Details
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
South East
April 2018