Apprentice MEP engineer Review

Working on the Yorkshire water framework with a mentor commissioning engineer carrying our multiple jobs on site, including diagnosing problems and finding solutions, setting up instruments, reading drawings and following them to ensure everything thing electrically is correct to prevent problems further into the job and tasks set by my mentor/training provider.

Since starting at JN Bentley in September 2018, my knowledge of electrical engineer has developed massively, a huge part of this down to the mentor I work with. When starting this apprenticeship, I had no previous knowledge of working with electrical equipment, electrical tools or anything of the sort. I am now confident in understanding a range of different things and able to identify parts and tools on site.

The program in my opinion is extremely enjoyable. The mentor I was paired up with at the beginning of the apprenticeship is extremely supportive, engaging and always looking out for things that will help me. Not only does he try extremely hard to develop my knowledge, but we also get along extremely well, making it enjoyable going to work with someone you get along with.

Things got off to a slow start as the training provider we originally started the apprenticeship with were unable to deliver it to the standards the JN Bentley wanted them to meet. After great efforts by the JN Bentley team, a new training provider has recently been introduced and things are starting to move on.

The support from everyone around the company and JN Bentley is 1st class. Asking for help or advice from anyone is never an issue. The commissioning team I work under is a tight nit group but feel as though I have been included into that team. The support from my mentor is nothing sort of outstanding.

As the training provider had only recently been introduced to us, we are still trying to get things in line, the communication has been a little slow to start but after a few sessions, has really started to move in the right direction. Communication with the new tutors is improving.

The work set by the training provider is to cover all aspects of engineering mechanically and electrically, so some stuff isn’t always relevant to my day to day job, as it doesn’t really involve much mechanical work, but obviously is relevant to the qualification that I will gain from this apprenticeship.

There are lots of different activities that you can get involved in at work. I personally haven’t been involved yet, but have been made aware via email of opportunities for bowling, sports days, golf or even just going out for a few drinks after work has concluded on a Friday evening

Yes

The opportunity for progression is extremely high, the support is great, there is a good atmosphere in the working environment, salary is very good for an apprenticeship. As long as you complete the apprenticeship to the satisfaction of JN Bentley, the offer of further employment in the company is 100%, which is a massive positive which swayed me to start with JN Bentley over other companies.

When receiving an offer to attend a day in a location, when you turn up, do not be overwhelmed by the amount of people there, not everyone there is going for the same job as you. Just turn up, be yourself and you will go not for wrong, JN Bentley are as much for the person as the grades.