Engineering Apprentice Review

Being an Engineering Apprentice at GSK has given me many opportunities to expand my knowledge as well as put some of my previous knowledge to good use. I don't believe there is such a thing as an average day as an engineer, things don't work for the most bizarre of reasons and your job is it work out why and then fix the problem. Obviously throughout this process you are accompanied by a fully qualified engineer so if you need any help all you have to is ask, even if its the simplest thing they are there to help you learn.

I came into this apprenticeship after I completed my A-Levels, so coming to an apprenticeship where you go to college to do a btec was very different for me. I feel that when you do A-levels they teach you how to learn a specific subject but you don't really have much interest in it apart from learning for the exams, whereas btec I believe that they give you such an understanding of a subject you really enjoy it, I have gone home from lessons and researched the subject further because I just find it so fascinating. That probably sounds strange to want to learn more about something you learn at college and I would have thought the same 3 years ago, but now I really enjoy it.

I really enjoy what I do here, I feel that every day I am learning something new in a fun and interesting way. I think the apprenticeship went above and beyond my expectations. At the beginning when I applied I thought it would be me watching a fully qualified engineer doing all the work and handing him the tools and learning that way, but its almost the complete opposite you do all the work yourself with all the tools, its very fun

Very, I have been placed on multiple courses in the summer because they want me to expand my knowledge and understanding of all the various systems in the factory. I have monthly meetings with my manager where he checks my progress in college as well as my progress in the factory and my understanding of how various systems work.

I think its fairly well organised, when you first join site you have to do a three day induction to clue you in about all the safety and other information about the site, after this you don't really stop training there's always something more to learn. Some training such as manual handling has to be repeated every two years to keep in fresh in your mind. On Fridays, we tend to do college work as there isn't much spare time in the week for it. I know you are meant to do work from college at home but when I get home after work I'm exhausted so having a Friday dedicated to college work is a really good idea.

A lot, whenever help is needed all I have to do I ask, and there are so many people I could ask I am spoilt for choice. Everyone is so happy to help and give you second opinions its very settling. Even the Apprentices who are in the other years will offer me advice and help.

A lot, whenever help is needed all I have to do I ask, and there are so many people I could ask I am spoilt for choice. Everyone is so happy to help and give you second opinions its very settling. Even the Apprentices who are in the other years will offer me advice and help. I have personally received a lot of support from all the various staff at GSK. In my first year at GSK when I was full time at College I entered a competition with a few other students called F1 in schools, you basically have to create and make a model f1 car (about 20 cm) and race it down a 30-meter track. I progressed through the various stages (Regionals, Nationals and then Worlds) with a lot of backing from GSK. They paid for my travel to Malaysia (which was where the event was held) and gave my team an additional sum of money for various equipment we needed.

The salary suits me fairly well, I'm the type of person who feels like they should start at the very bottom and then prove themselves worthy of a pay rise / bonus which is what happens here. You get rewarded for having good ideas or constantly working hard. Personally I have no issues with the money. I find traveling to site not too bad as well, it’s about 40 minutes so it bearable. If you do the Engineering Apprenticeship you go to college for your entire first year, so all your travel costs will be paid for (within limits, but it was fine for me) which is a bonus.

All Apprentices get to go on Outward bounds programs to learn different skills which can then be translated to your job, this is done in fun and active ways which I think makes it more memorable. As well as this additional learning courses are available to help expand your knowledge. An example of this would be going to a summer school and staying there for a week learning in depth details about one specific thing e.g. PLC's.

Yes

I just think it's a good company to work for, you get a lot of benefits (such as cheap cinema tickets which I use a lot.) You meet some very interesting and intelligent people that are very friendly and more than happy to share their knowledge with you. I have really enjoyed it here so I don't see why anyone else wouldn't feel the same way.

Show interest in what you are applying for, there's no point applying to something if your not going to enjoy it. If your asked to prepare a presentation think of something you really feel passionate about and something that you have in-depth knowledge of but try to apply it to the job. They might ask you questions about your presentation so this is why I say you need to have a fairly good idea on what you are presenting.