Nuclear Engineer Review

In my role I rotate around different placements relating to Nuclear within the business learning from the placement managers and the people in each department what they do and completing projects within the team. This can range from work on spread sheets, documents and more office based work to more hands on projects.

I have learnt lot of new skills. I have learnt how to use lot of different software such as Articulate, Visio along with learning a lot about how to use and manipulate excel to your advantage. I have also learnt a lot of hands on skills such as how different operations on a boat are conducted.

I think my programme is very informative and useful. When rotating through the placements it is very interesting to see the different areas of the business and how they fit into the company. The people are welcoming and always ready to answer your questions. I am enjoying my apprenticeship very much.

My programme is organised and structured well with (especially in the Nuclear Sector) a lot of flexibility in placements and objectives. With this flexibility it means you can tailor the programme to your interests whilst still getting the full scheme of knowledge from each area. There is a lot of independence from the scheme whilst also being helped by the team.

The support from the employer is amazing. With the early careers team there to support you from afar, your discipline manager, placement managers, mentors from around the business and your peers, there is an abundance of people to support you if needed. There is also a number of schemes to do with physical and mental health to help support you both at work and in your private life.

We are given lots of support towards our qualifications. We have day release to college with a coach that picks us all up and drops us off home at the end. If college assignments and exams build up we are able to use time from our placements to complete so we do not fall behind. If there are any concerns about college, early careers help and listen immediately.

At college I have been able to learn everything from professional writing, nuclear history, physics, maths and hands on skills also. Professional writing has been extremely useful within the company so I can create reports and other writings. It has also been important to understand the history of the sector so I can understand the safety precautions and LFE. These along with the more obvious physics and maths have helped me perform better in my role at work.

There are many activities to get involved in. There are STRETCH activities such as running an after school club, being a STEM ambassador, helping at open evenings and open days. There are group sports activities along with professional network events within the business such as the early careers forum, forums within the sectors and also social activities within the peers and colleagues.

Yes

BAE Systems is a great, welcoming and interesting company to work for. There are a number of employee benefits such as the pensions and shares scheme as well as Occupational Health, Wellbeing and mental health ambassadors. The placements mean that you get a taster of what each section is like with the end of the scheme ending in an exit role.

Make sure that you work hard, research and also stand out. Do something that makes the interviewers remember you. Take the application tests seriously however don't be disheartened if you think they went badly. Just try and be as confident as you can and come up with examples of how you can show off your skills. And enjoy it because everyone is lovely.