Apprentice Engineering Technician Review

The first year we are in college full time where we have theory classes on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Tuesday and Thursday being practical all day. Our practical work includes pipe fitting, TIG welding and electrical wiring. Our theoretical classes are currently: 3 phase systems, principles of engineering systems, electrical machine principles, engineering mathematics, CAD and Thermofluids.

I have learned how to weld with a tungsten torch and the relative safety requirements that follow. I have learned hot to correctly fit pipes in steel and copper as well as soldering. I have learned how to wire up specific components as well. I feel these will be relative to growing my career in the company.

I really enjoy learning skills and developing upon old ones. I have enjoyed making new friends in the workplace environment. As I have just come from school I have enjoyed adapting myself to a college and work combined environment. This has given me the relative experience which I may have not received otherwise.

The program is a good structure with college having timetabled subject split into twelve-week sections. My only concern was that we were limited to a small amount of exposure to the site. More frequent visits may help us to acclimatise to the shift of moving out of college and into the workplace.

We get weekly visits from our boss which is helpful for asking questions in person. My employer is very outward reaching and provides a lot of services to their employees that you may not find somewhere else and they set a standard that other companies are seen to strive for.

When it comes closer to tests we are given sufficient amounts of revision material. Some classes are more helpful than others. The most helpful classes work through the answers and allow for questioning on particular problems and allow us to feel more comfortable with difficult subjects such as electrical machine principles.

With the support provided, I feel very comfortable that I can tackle any problem and previous lessons have helped me move forward to other challenging projects. I think that these will be easily transferred over to working on site and feel equipped to help other people understand this as well.

There are facilities on the college campus such as a gym and a football pitch I don't personally use these facilities but some of the boys after college play a game of five a side after college on a Monday at a building a short drive away. this is because to use the pitch at the college they need to ask permission and have someone monitor them.

Yes

The training is thorough and when doing practical work we are not allowed to move on to the next task until the current job is finished and meets a high enough standard. This stops cutting corners and allows for a job to be correct the first time, which is expected of you in industry.

The standards and expectations that the company place on you are very high but that does not mean you can not achieve them. To achieve these standards you just need to work hard to gain good rewards. This type of determination is readily available to source if you really want to be part of a recognisable company like BAE Systems.