Higher Apprentice - Electrical Engineering Review

I am training to be an electrical engineer. This is done through different placements in the relative departments across 3 years while also attending Furness College one day a week studying towards a HNC. After the first 2 Years we move on from a HNC and start studying a degree in Electrical Engineering.

I have learnt various skills in the work place such as documentation review and approval. Various technical information such as power loads, cabling and data analysis. Alongside this Furness College has allowed us to cover move technical subjects such as Analogue and Digital, Electrical Principles and Engineering Mathematics. The college also teaches us a business related module called Aspects of Industrial Management.

I enjoy the apprenticeship with BAE a lot. They provided interesting and detailed work while offering support from the early careers team with regards to both personal, social and work lives. The structure of the course also allows you to keep a routine without it being boring. New work is always available.

The Structure of the course is good. It allows for you to spend time across different departments so you can gain a good general knowledge of all areas. At times there are many unquestioned answers and apprentices can sometimes feel as if they are left in the dark. However this is constantly being improved and there are many people who are willing to answer these questions.

The is a lot of support from the employer. They offer time to studying college in work as well as a space to do so. The people you work around have often studied the same course and offer help and advice with college work. The early careers team also provide support in work, personal and social life.

Furness College offer a good course with teachers of good knowledge. At times assignments are set without the proper knowledge and can be difficult to write within the deadline. When first starting it is difficult to keep up with topics that you haven't covered in A-Levels. The tutors offer good support with questions.

At first the course does not seem to relate however as you get deeper into both the college course and work course the work in college starts to apply in work. This application is not always obvious but sometime subtle things learnt at college can help do basic things at work.

The apprenticeship offers a few different events. The first big event is the Apprentice Christmas do to Lancaster. Through out the year there is multiple sporting clubs such as football, rugby and Badminton. There is alsooppurtunities to work the community such as STEM activities like Top of the Form and Lego League

Yes

They offer a great apprenticeship with a good balance of work and college. They offer a great salary and offer good working hours which includes a flexitime system. They also provide a lot of support from early careers. The facilities are great and allow you to learn and work efficiently.

Be prepared to work hard. Hand assignments in on time and don't be afraid to ask both your tutors and colleagues for help. During placements feel free to ask any one questions if you don't understand or you are just curious abut something. Also don't be afraid to ask for more work.