Technical Apprentice Review

Technical engineering apprentice. Daily role is dependant on whichever department I am in and varies day to day. The structure of my apprenticeship is based around a number of different placements within the business, allowing a well rounded insight across different departments and aircraft platforms in which we as a company operate and support. I enjoy the work that i complete on a daily basis and i think it's really worth doing and worthwile for my apprenticeship.

I am currently completing my HNC in engineering along side an NVQ in Engineering Technical Support. In addition to this I attend various training course for software and toolsets such as Microsoft Project, Access and Excel. Furthermore I have been trained as a STEM Ambassador and have received training allowing me to go into schools and colleges to promote STEM subjects and an engineering career pathway. I hope to complete my degree in the future as well as an engineer.

I thoroughly enjoy my apprenticeship and diverse, constantly changing environment. I am always learning and gaining confidence whilst working as part of a wider team within the company to meet work place goals and targets. I think that i have enjoyed the programme a lot more than what i thought i would before i joined which is a nice suprise, but of course like most work places there are times when the work is tasking and a bit boring.

I feel I am given the opportunity to play an integral part of which ever team I am in, this makes me feel valued and the work I do appreciated. As previously mentioned, I am always learning and gaining confidence whilst working as part of a wider team within the company to meet work place goals and targets. I think that i have enjoyed the programme a lot more than what i thought i would before i joined which is a nice suprise, but of course like most work places there are times when the work is tasking and a bit boring.

The structure of my programme is extremely well organised and I am informed well in advance which placement I am going to next and what is going on when. Within the departments I am put in, I participate fully in department inductions and introduced to the whole team gaining information about the infrastructure of the department and the team hierarchy. I think that there is always room for improvement but as a general then yes the place itself and the managers are organised with your work and apprenticeship as well as a whole.

I receive reams of support from my training provider through regular check ups from my training assessor as well as a progress review every 12 weeks. The other employees within the department take time ensuring I understand what it is that I am doing and making sure I am busy doing something which is worthwhile. The 12 week-check is really good and keeps us in contact with each other and the company is glad that we have good communication with the colleges as well that we use in the local area (different for different apprenticeships).

My employer gives no end of support to me as an apprentice in work and also outside of work. As stated above, I have regular meetings with them to check my progress and that I am still on track with my targets and objectives set out at the beginning of the year. I am happy with the targets set for me and i believe they can be easily achieved if i put my all into my work. My employer always gives me information about other help at work if i need it such as personal wellbeing or health etc. I am really happy with all my support i have received here.

My salary meets all my living costs as required in order for me to get to travel to and from work comfortably and safely as well as ensuring I am covered for the cost of living. I think that the salary is quite low compared to what i thought i might be on however as i am not technically a full time worker/employee and i have to do college work still then

Outside of work there are a few opportunities to get involved in team building exercises and also a leisure club which you can use facilities available at an extremely reasonable cost. I think that the work opportunities at other sites is extemely good and inciteful to me as well. I also think that we get given a lot of other opportunities as different work groups to meet up and get to know each other better which, in turn, gives us a better atmosphere and working environment at work.

Yes

Overall I have fully enjoyed my time at BAE Systems and I would recommend applying for a position to anyone. The company itself look after you as an employee with various health care schemes, car schemes, share schemes and many more which are over and above which they have to supply. Overall i would highly recommend the course/apprenticeship to anyone interested in either engineering, business, software etc. as BAE Systems offers a wide-range of apprenticeships specialising in different areas such as these.

Start your application early and keep going back to it. Show a real passion for engineering and put that across in your application. For competency based questions always try and link the responses back to things and activities you have done previously and experiences you have gained through previous jobs or school / college. I think that i would also just say to relax and take your time if you are in an interview and ensure you ask questions and learn from your experience.