Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis, I am working at the expected level for a fully qualified engineer within the company. This allows me to gain experience in the role. I move around placements, and am able to gain experience working in many difference roles. Currently I am working on data and systems analysis, although I have also worked in areas such as research and quality assurance.

So far, I have learned a lot of useful skills with regards to communication and people skills. For example, an extremely useful skill to know is the best and most apporpiate means of communication, such as email versus phoning. The ability to easily write a strong email was also a useful skill to gain.

The programme itself is highly enjoyable - it is stressful sometimes in college, but this not due to the programme, but down to my personality instead. Unlike in some workplaces, most placement managers are more than happy to help you learn and support you to the right extent, ensuring you both enjoy your placements and learn as much as possible from it

The programme is as structured or as flexible as you'd like. You start out with a fixed placement and college programme, but you are able to alter the placement programme should you feel like you would benefit by it. For example, I have altered my placement plan multiple times in agreement with my managers and apprentice manager.

There is almost unlimited support available within the company for almost every problem. In work, almost all placement managers and team members are more than happy to assist you with your learning, and support you with any questions you may have. Outside work, there is plenty of support available, for example mental health assistance, and physios available on site.

I am given time in work in order to complete my qualifications, and am encouraged to work closely with my colleagues on my HND project, which is designed to be written on tasks completed in work. My colleagues are almost always happy to assist in any way they can, with knowledge and / or material.

The qualifications achieved are all tailored to my particular apprenticeship. In my case I am doing an HND in engineering systems, while my peers are completing HNDs in mechanical or electrical engineering, which is more appropriate to their stream. The work in college is extremely useful, as it gives me a "safe space" to practice certain things, and allows me to get an "external" view on various things.

Within the company, there are often various extra-curricular activities running. We are encouraged to become STEM ambassadors, and attend careers and STEM events to both promote the company, and to promote engineering as a whole. There are almost always social events being organised within teams for various things, sometimes as simple as a leaving do.

Yes

The apprenticeship is years ahead of most other that I've heard of, with better support, prospects and a generally more highly recognised qualification and achievement at the end. Plus, it has to be said, the pay is a lot better than most apprenticeships offer, both during the apprenticeship, and on completion.

Be yourself in all that you do, be it interviews, in college, or in the workplace. But be ready to "grow up" and show that you can be an adult, not necessarily in terms of being immature or behaving, but in your way of thinking, the way you approach problems, and your resilience.