Apprentice Electrical Engineer Review

At Schneider our roles vary due to moving into different departments. the first two years working at Schneider I worked on the shop floor where I learned the processes of the lines which gave me a good understanding of how everything works. in the last two years of my apprenticeship I have worked in the offices where I am more customer based and am using the knowledge I have gained from the first two years. at this moment in time I am working in commercial where my daily tasks include processing orders and speaking to customers. my responsibilities include processing orders quickly and efficiently so that our customers are happy with our service.

I have developed many different skills while working at Schneider either them being academic or personal. I am currently in my last year completing my HNC at Wakefield college where I have been studying for the last three years. At work I am also completing my workplace NVQ. I am also building other skills such as communication due to now working with customers which has therefore given more confidence and more exposure.

At Schneider I enjoy the part of learning new things all the time either that being from making mistakes. Schneider has given me the opportunity to learn and become knowledgeable which is what I enjoy to do. Also at college the work is challenging which pushes me to do my best. my expectations of working here where slightly different to what I expected but nothing concerning.

At Schneider I believe that it is easy to talk to my managers and to ask for help etc. Sometimes throughout my apprenticeship I felt like we were more used to fill in gaps rather than learn. I understand the point of when you are an apprentice you will get jobs which aren't the best but I didn't expect to be used for production rather than learn the process of how it all worked. The management upstairs however has been more welcome due to me been given challenges and shown the processes in more depth.

At the start of the apprenticeship we had a structured plan which was well thought through. The first two years were meant to be shop floor based but due to being involved in projects and in some areas spending to much time in there I was still working on the shop floor. This then had a knock on effect which then limited my time upstairs in the office.

Our NVQ training provider comes in every month to check on our progress and checks that we are hitting our targets. He gives us good support and guidance if we have issues with the NVQ. In my opinion the NVQ could have also been more thought through due to us now working in the offices but needing work which is wiring and mounting related. Not all NVQ criteria could be met at the Leeds site so we were sent down to other Schneider Facilities were we could meet the criteria.

If any issues come up I would go and see my manager who would advise me on what to do and help as much as they could. All managers are easy to talk too and will help if asked. HR are friendly and understanding also. I also have monthly meetings with my manager to discuss how work is going and if I have any issues either that being at college or at Schneider.

I travel to work in my car everyday and costs aren't too bad as we have free parking at Schneider. I currently live with my parents as housing is too expensive. I tend not to spend to much daily. I can afford to go out on social events when they arise.

At Schneider I have had a few opportunities outside of work. when I first started my apprenticeship I went down to Hull to witness a substation being installed. in the following years I have other opportunities such as traveling Arnhem Holland to witness some tests to our products. I have also been to other Schneider facilities such as Stone, Telford and Scarborough.

Yes

Schneider apprenticeship Scheme is good in general and is well thought. I believe that it was just down to the plans exceeding time scales which pulled my apprenticeship a little off course. But Schneider will most likely look at this as a learning curve and so therefore I think that I would recommend it.

Understand the job role that you will be taking on. Schneider is a relaxed environment with easy people to talk to, so ask questions if you are unsure. The only thing that could have been more clear to me when I applied for Schneider would have been where we were expected to be at the end of the apprenticeship as it wasn't too clear.