Combat Systems Higher Apprentice Review

In my current role, I am working with a team that deal with the integrity of secure/graded compartments and the routing of Secret/Top Secret information against the routing of Confidential/Non-Secret information. This can be including of doing compartment reviews, carrying out inspections on complete compartments within different projects or virtual models.

I have learned many skills throughout my apprenticeship, including, how to work as a team member, a leader, working with new people, networking skills regarding communication with different offices. I've learned how to handle responsibility and gained trust from colleagues. This has been proven during tasks or challenges I have been tasked with during my time.

I really enjoy my programme as it is both hands on and theory work. This means that I can learn something in a book or a document, and then go onto a platform and physically touch the kit and use my knowledge to fix any issues that occur or just know how the inside of the kit works.

I'd say it is very well structured. We know from the offset that we will be attending college full time throughout the first year and that years 2-4 will be split over six six-month placements in various departments within Combat Systems. This can include working away which is organised through Line Managers and Placement Managers.

I have a Line Manager who is there for me 24/7 within work for any needs I might have as an Apprentice. I also have a Functional Manager who is there for me if I have any placement questions or functional questions about the future. Along with this there are multiple first aiders within the work that are known, mental health first aiders as well as normal first aiders.

During my first year of my apprenticeship, I was in college for 5 days a week, where we received a lecturer to 5 apprentices. So the attention to detail and help provided was great. We also were able to email the lecturers if we had any issues that we required help with.

I would say that although my qualifications are good, they do not apply directly to the apprenticeship that I am in. This is down to the fact that it is a copy of the course set up in the South. However, in the South, they focus more on Software, where as in the North there is a stronger focus on Hardware and Integration.

There are many STEM events that we can get involved in. So I would include this in professional networking events, as we go to these and meet various people from the world of Engineering. This means that we get the chance to meet people we never would have before. I wouldn't say there are many activities as such, but there is a Council that we can put ideas forward to for anything like that.

Yes

I would say that if anyone was considering an apprenticeship and they were wanting to go into an engineering field that BAE would be the best idea for them. This is down to the longevity of the work as well as the experience you pick up quickly and the skills that you will learn throughout your time.

I'd say that they should make sure they can show that work well in a team, as BAE is one big team. If one thing goes wrong, it has as impact on everyone. So I'd say that the best thing for someone to do before applying would be to think about everything that makes them stand out from everyone else and make sure they think about their application and get their CV up to a high standard.