Shipwright Apprentice Review

Every morning when I come into work I ask my team leader what it is he needs for me to do that day, through out the day when I have completed set tasks I return to him and ask for more task that may need to be completed. My tasks can be very broad as I am a shipwright apprentice.

I have learnt many skills since working for BAE Systems. I have learnt how to read engineering drawings, I have learnt how to gas cut, I have also learnt how to weld. Since being in small boats I have learnt about datum lines and making sure things are marked out correctly following the engineering drawings.

I enjoy the variety of my day to day work, some days I can come in and we will be fitting a deck to a boat, the next I can come in and I am fitting fire extinguishers inside the console on the boat. I can also be helping to fit engines into boats as well as taking them out when the boats come in for a refit.

I would love to say that the course has been very well organised yet I can not. The start of my apprenticeship was what we were told to be a trail blazer, meaning it was a new course, because of this we have been left waiting sometimes for things to be done. I am currently waiting myself for them to sort my shipwright course out as it currently does not exist, I have been told.

Within BAE Systems you receive lots of support in many different ways. There is always someone you can talk to about problems, whether its to do with your apprenticeship, work in general or if you are going through some problems in your own home life. We have annual medicals which help us to know we are healthy.

During our first year there was lots of support that we could receive if we needed it. Our teachers were very knowledgeable on the subjects they were teaching and if they didn't know an answer they would research the problem themselves. If you were struggling they would go out of their way to help you thought certain exams etc.

I feel the training I receive for my qualification helps me in my job role as it give me in depth knowledge about materials that I use and sometimes the products that I may be using. It also teaches us about health and safety which allows us to be safe whilst at work.

There are many extra activities that you are able to get into, I myself helped at the field gun challenge in Collingwood where we promoted BAE Systems to the public and gave people an insight on what work we did throughout our course, we also talked to people about what they wanted in life and made them aware of what courses were available.

Yes

I would happily recommend BAE systems to a friend. My reason for this is the amount of opportunity that you receive from them to allow your self to grow into a better person. I also feel some of the types of work you can do is like no where else especially in the place where I work.

The tips and advice I would give somebody applying for BAE Systems is show that you are willing to learn, that is what they love most. I also recommend being honest when you apply as if you are not and they find out you could possibly lose your apprenticeship. If possible try and get some experience in the work you want to do whether you volunteer for a business or something as this will give you the edge over other people as you have some sort of experience.