Combat Systems Higher Apprentice Review

I am a Combat Systems Engineer which means it is my role to ensure the design, installation and operability of a combat systems on a ship are to a good standard so that the system is fully functional, day to day tasks can have me checking the wiring and installation of equipment against documentation and company standards.

I have learnt a great deal of new skills in my apprenticeship in the form of both learning electrical wiring and computer networking theory during the college phase of the apprenticeship but also the practical application of those skills in a real working environment which I believe is the most important skill to learn.

I feel I enjoy my programme for the most part as it is practical learning in a working environment for the most part which presents a varied set of learning experiences along with the genuinely interesting setting of designing and working on a warship which feels like its presenting a set of experiences with you can't get everywhere. so the interesting and varied nature keeps the job enjoyable.

The exact programme I'm on is relatively knew to the company at least in my country so there were a few issues arising in the early stages but this was unavoidable, I believe in spite of this the programme was well organised and structures as it was always clear what was to come and what was to be gotten from it.

I have received constant support from my employer in the form of my line manager who I am able to talk to at any time along with a lot of platforms on which to raise any queries, suggestions or complaints within the company, which I have to hesitance to use.

I receive constant support from my training provider in being given the supports to gain any qualifications that I need as well as the support to apply for any training courses which I identify as relevant to my career, during my first year whihc was entirely college based it was identified that a specific course within the college would be beneficial to my training once I moved into the workplace and this was then added to the curriculum.

My qualifications gained through my training provider have given me a knowledge of how a network functions through protocols and hardware, these same protocols and hardware are installed on the ships I have worked on making this knowledge very applicable to these roles, I also received a basic electricians course which was has been beneficial in the understanding of theoretical and physical wiring on the ship.

During my programme there have been multiple social networking events in the form of dinners which as an apprentice I have been asked to attend as well as the local apprentice council organising a social committee which aims to organise social events aimed at apprentices to better socialise between trades.

Yes

I find the BAE Systems apprenticeship to be a well paid, enjoyable and challenging which for me makes it an ideal place to work with a good workforce and plenty of learning opportunities as well as opportunities to stay and advance your career and education after the programme has finished which for someone straight out of school is ideal.

I would say if your applying for an apprenticeship at BAE Systems it would be good to show an interest in engineering as a whole as well as showing enthusiasm in the interview as the company looks for enthusiasm and a keen learner as well as learn some of the history of shipbuilding.