Genreralist Engineering Apprentice Review

I am a Generalist Engineering Apprentice. This means that I study both Mechanical and Electrical HNC's at college. I am at college 2 days a week and am at work in placement for the other 3. When at work I will circulate around a variety of different 3 month long placements over the 4 year Apprenticeship scheme.

A lot of the skills I have learnt are interpersonal. I have learnt how to act in a professional environment and how to write professional emails etc. I have also learnt computer skills from excel to CAD and have gained a lot of knowledge of the business itself over my time here so far.

I am very much enjoying the Apprenticeship scheme at MBDA. I look forward to coming into work every day as the work that I do is so varied and interesting. I also find it enjoyable being in a professional environment and much prefer it to Sixth Form, I feel the environment there was comparatively immature

We have regular emails from the Apprenticeship organisers to check on our progress and offer us training or extra curricular activities. We also have a very good working relationship with the Apprenticeship leaders meaning that if we every have a problem or concern we are encouraged to speak to them. The entire 4 years is planned well in advance making me feel wanted and appreciated as part of the company which I appreciate. I feel the whole scheme is very well organised.

We receive lots of training and extra curricular opportunities as well as plentiful chances to go and speak to line managers or Apprenticeship organisers should we have a problem. Since the MBDA Apprenticeship scheme has been running a long time I feel that they really do cater well to their Apprentices.

The College that we attend is very helpful. You are not spoon fed and pushed along as much as you are in A-Levels meaning that you have to be motivated to put ion the work. For this reason some people fall behind but that's of their own doing. If you put effort in and keep up and are engaged in lessons/lectures the College are more than happy to push you as far as you can go and to provide you all the help you need.

Even in the short space of time that I have been doing my Apprenticeship I have been able to transfer new knowledge from College over to my work placement. As well as this the attitude to learning that I have developed whilst being at college has been very helpful when applied to work as well.

There are many sports and social clubs that I have been invited to get involved in by company wide emails and by specific departments. As a group of Apprentices we also get regular emails inviting us to different extra curricular activities such as award shows or school visits. We are encouraged to do these events to help us become as well rounded as possible.

Yes

I have massively enjoyed my time here already and am extremely excited for what the future will hold for me at this company. I feel that I am valued and that my development will greatly benefit the company in years to come. I have made great friends and have developed in both a knowledge and personal sense very quickly in a short space of time.

The applications for the scheme are highly competitive so try to make yourself stand out. Your grades are not the most important thing about your application. As long as you meet the minimum requirements its how you present yourself and all of the other activities that you do that will make you attractive to an employer. Being motivated, positive and willing to learn will get you a long way in any company.