Structural Engineering Higher Apprentice Review

I complete 3-4 month placements within teams who work closely with the structural engineering department, which is where I will exit at the end of my apprenticeship. I get to see an overview of what each team does and I am also given some responsibility for work, and objectives that I must complete by the end of each placement.

I feel as though I am much more able to get on with work unassisted in my placements, as I have a better understanding of all of the work that is carried out. I think I am better at speaking to new colleagues, as my team changes every 3 months.

I really enjoy my programme, as I get to see lots of different aspects of the business. I feel like my induction meant that I got to make friends across my higher apprenticeship intake, and studying at college means that I have made new friends in the area who work for other businesses

My personal experience is that although I enjoy my placements, I don't feel they are very well structured. Prior to starting a placement I don't have much of a formal guideline on where is best to go, and sometimes on starting there is no work ready for me to start. Other apprenticeships ran here have their whole placement plan laid out from day 1, so that they and the teams they are going to know where they will be and when, so they can prepare. I feel as though this would be better.

I feel completely supported by my employer. I have been able to speak to my line manager about both work issues and personal ones, and have not felt like my behaviour was unsuitable. I was made to feel completely at ease when bringing up any problem I had that I felt was affecting my ability to carry out my work.

With personal issues, I feel completely supported as I did when approaching my line manager in work, and feel as though they wanted the best for my wellbeing, and felt supported in the catching up of work that I missed. I sometimes feel as though in classes, the teachers assume that we have all come through the vocational route, and so miss out the basics, making it more difficult to understand further learning.

I think my qualification teaches me the foundations of all of the engineering work that I carry out in my role. It means that I understand the work that I am doing better, and enables me to come up with solutions based on the principles I have learnt during my qualification.

I haven't come across many social activities or sports teams at work. Locally in the area there are sports teams, and some of the professional institutions run lectures here sometimes. There are young members forums for these institutions that hold meetings locally, so there are opportunities to network. There is also the Cumbria Graduate Forum that hold social events occasionally.

Yes

Working for a company that has a global presence and specialises in so many areas of engineering gives your future career such a wide scope. I don't feel limited at all in my work which is really refreshing, and I feel as though working for such a company will give me the opportunity to have a fulfilling career

Do your research on the role and sector you are applying for. All the sectors are very rewarding but vary hugely. Look into the area where your job will be - for example my apprenticeship is in a small coastal town where BAE Systems is a huge employer, which is very different to working in a small city office, but I think it is so rewarding.