Fitter Review

I am an apprentice aircraft fitter currently in my second year. My day to day role involves me carrying out engineering activities and assembly work on aircraft parts, typically things like drilling, profiling and attaching other parts and add ons. As an apprentice I am responsible for keeping certain stations filled up with sealnts and adhesives and maintaining a clean and tidy work area.

I have learnt many new skills from using hand tools to interpreting engineering drawings. I have also learnt a lot from my academic course which I attend once a week which involves gaining an understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and other science and maths based subjects.

I enjoy it a lot, the work I do is very interesting, challenging and rewarding. I thought I might struggle with the work load but it is broken down very well which makes it easy to mange in small chunks and there is always someone to help and guide you if needed.

The apprenticeship is a very important part of the company and provides you opportunities to work on multi million pound aircraft, develop your confidence and people skills through delivering presentations and take part in several extra curricular activities. The training is of a very good standard and apprentices are encouraged to discuss any concerns and suggest ways to improve the way the training is delivered.

Very well organised, all skills are gradually built up before you are expected to carry out work activities competently.

We have regular meetings with our assessors who check where we are up to with our NVQ work and suggest ways in which we could improve our work.

It is made clear where to go and who to talk to if we should need any help or assistance with anything. We also have our own HR representative and union representative.

I would say it is well paid for an apprenticeship and we get a travel allowance to cover the distance from the training centre ( where apprentices are based) to the site we are working at.

Yes, we can take part in the charity challenge, ambassador scheme, prince's trust, german exchange and world skills programmes as well as having occasional opportunities to attend air shows and take part in voluntary work.

Yes

It is well structured, you get looked after, there are many opportunities and the work is interesting and challenging at times.

Research into the company and explore the different roles available. Try to attend an open evening and try and get a bit of experience in the area want to go into (take an engineering or business course at school or college or work on a project in your own time).