Operations Apprentice Review

I assist my skilled operative in assembling, testing and inspecting missile components, including circuit boards, sub systems, launch systems and cables. The assembly operations involve following design specifications to assemble components and subsystems (a unit made up of a group of individual components) to a recognised standard. These ops involve torque loading, working with adhesives, soldering, and wiring, to name a few. The test operations sometimes involve testing the assembled components using manual techniques, such as using multimeters and oscilloscopes to read voltage and resistance levels of cables/boards/sub assemblies, but sometimes involves using automated test systems as well. Inspection operations involve checking the paperwork for the finished product and making sure all ops have been completed and stamped off, as well as checking for any visual defects on the product.

During my time at MBDA have learned how to follow design specifications and work to engineering drawings. I have also learned assembly, test and inspection techniques. I have developed my soldering skills to IPC Class 3 standard, which is the highest standard available, used mainly in aerospace and advanced medical equipment.

I enjoy the program to a large extent. The work environment is very good, and you get to work with a large number of interesting and varied individuals while completing your 3 month rotational placements, during which you get to work in every area of production and do every job in the factory. The pay is also very good. Because I started in 2016 my pay rises followed the structure below: 1st Year - £12'000 2nd Year - £17'000 3rd Year - £21'000 4th Year - £25'000 However new starters now start at £14'000. These pay increases are dependant on your performance reviews at work and college, but I have always managed to achieve good reviews and achieve the maximum, or very close to maximum payrise, as have most other apprentices. The only downside is sometimes the work itself, which on some placements isn't very challenging.

The program is structured well, with apprentices completing 3 month rotational placements on all areas of production, such as sub-systems, seekers, circuit cards, cables, and final build. This allows apprentices to have a hand in doing every job in the factory, which gives you a good idea of what job you would like to do when you come out of your time.

I have never been in a position where I needed to ask for support from my employer, however they have heavily supported other apprentices with extended periods of fully paid leave when they have requested it. The company tends to offer advice and support for issues relating to both home and work whenever it is requested.

This is one of the weaker aspects of the apprenticeship, as operations apprentices are sent to Wigan and Leigh college on day release for their education qualifications. The teaching quality at the college is generally poor among the teachers taking students for BTEC, ONC and HNC courses, but improves significantly once students move on to higher courses, such as HND and further.

Our NVQ, which is facilitated by alliance learning, is a good qualification which helps apprentices keep a record of the work they have completed while on their apprenticeship. The qualifications we receive at Wigan and Leigh college however are not well tailored to the work at the company, so although they are good externally recognised qualifications, to answer the question directly they do not help me perform any better in my job role.

The company run a charity challenge team, which hosts and takes part in events to raise money for charity, such as pub golf, sponsored marathons, sponsored skydiving, tough mudder events etc. The company also have an internal five aside football league which apprentices can take part in.

Yes

Good pay, decent work, good qualifications, treated well.

I would advise any applicants to do the best they can to convey their passion for engineering. This could include bringing in an engineering project you have completed, either at home or at school, during the course of which you could have utilised computer aided design, soldering skills, circuit board design etc.