Higher Engineering Apprentice Review

My Role as a Higher engineering apprentice at Siemens Ashby-de-la-Zouch is to rotate around the different departments at CIS, these include some of the following: Crossrail RTU Testing, Production, Construction, TFS and production. I am to attend college once a week every Tuesday to work currently towards my HNC in Electrical Engineering which will then progress onto a HND then a BEng.

During the short time I have been employed at Siemens I have learnt different engineering skills compared to the engineering skills I gained as a track signalling apprentice, now I am currently working on the SCADA and Telecoms aspects of engineering trackside. I have learnt briefly about Win CC OA.

At the moment I have only been in 2 departments at the company since starting the company in April 2018, 1 of which wasn't particularly thrilling for myself. On my college days I am enhancing on my math's and engineering/ electrical skills which is very enjoyable to myself.

My programme is moderately structured, my line manager sorts out in advance with the different departments my start date and when I am due to move onto my next placement. Since starting I haven't had much training which I thought id receive, especially when I'm a new starter and is new to the terminology of SCADA.

I receive a lot of support from my employer with regards to my education and work placements at the company. Learner Forums are set in place every month to enable apprentices like myself to discuss any problems that are occurring inside the workplace or at college so the company can act on them. Monthly 121's are in place as well as monthly mentor meetings.

My training provider I assume is the college I attend every week (Derby college Roundhouse), currently at the college I am not really given any support working towards assignments for my qualification, some of which I have raised already to my line manager to discuss with the college themselves. The lecturers aren't really engaging at the college and seem to not be bothered.

I feel that the qualification that I will receive after it has been completed will help me in whatever role I choose to work in at the company as the electrical, math's, project and business skills I would have acquired on the duration of the course will help me apply them in the workplace.

At Siemens there is activities which employees at the company get involved in these include: STEM events and becoming a STEM Ambassador, IET professional events, coffee roulette the chance to sit down with an unfamiliar face at the company . The company also allows employess to have 7 days paid leave out of the office for volunteering events.

Yes

I would recommend Siemens to a friend because they offer good benefits for their employees: competitive salary, bonuses, annual leave entitlement. Siemens is a company which has many different areas so it doesn't have to be specifically for en engineering role, they have vacancies in finance or business and other areas of the company.

People who are applying for Siemens need to know what Siemens do as a company and have an interest in working for the company. The person applying needs to be able to find a role which they enjoy. They will always be safe at Siemens as they're a company with tight health and safety protocols.