Engineering Apprentice Review

Each day is different and varies depending on if you are working a day shift or a night and also where you are working. We get the opportunity to work on systems all over the airport. This includes working on the lighting on the runway, the ponds, heating and air-conditioning, the baggage system, fire/safety systems, electronics, shuttle. As part of the first two years you work Monday-Friday 8-4. In the final two years you get the opputunity to work night too. This changes the shift to work 12 hour days 7-7, either night or day. First year is spent all at college and you only come to the airport to shadow technicians in the holidays. Second year onwards you go on day release. Between jobs with technicians we get the opputunity to work on our college work and also on our own work projects.

We are offered as much training as we are willing to take on. I have learnt how to use lathes, mills , hand tools and also how to weld. The course at college helps to build the fundamental skills required at work. We can then put what we learn into practice. We have been given the oppotunity to complete a HNC in engineering supported by work. This is to improve on more of our technical knowledge and to become more comfortable in our knowledge.

I've really enjoyed the programme so far. There is a good mix of both theory and also practical which aids us in become the best technicians we can be. I like how work isn't just stuck behind the desk all day, you get to be out there in the field rather than sitting behind a desk all day. I also enjoy working around the airport as it's like a town. Everyone seems to know everyone and is happy to help each other.

Our programme is structured so that we follow a plan as to which sections we get to go to next. We cover all of the areas of engineering through the three years on site. Due to the way work is scheduled, there can be work on sections that we aren't on. We are taken off for major maintenance in the different sections to gain the experience. The only slight downside is how the college run the course. A lot of it felt unplanned and needed work. They have over the course of the apprenticeship improved, but work is still needed. Each year has definite aims and you know what your working towards. We have regular contact with our manager who will check our progress.

All the technicians at work are happy to help us should we need help. We are being supervised at all times, so if you have any problems, you can easily get help. You're not left to feel out of your depth. I've taken college work that I didn't understand into work and the technicians have taken the time to explain it to me through the use of work systems. Our manager is also there to aid us when we're struggling. Any issues and he will find the solution, or someone who knows how to help. They offer help for anyone with learning difficulties to the best of their ability and want to see is do well. I have had 1-1 help with various technicians on skills I was struggling with.

Suffering from dyspraxia, I have struggled in college a little. The college gave me support in my first year whilst I was in full time college. If I had issues they would try and support me with my work and take more time to go through it. My negatives would be that the course wasn't planned out well and this caused problems. Despite this, there are some very good teachers there. The course just needed to be more organised. Staff did try to help where there were gaps, bit it did feel very rushed at the end of the first year which could have been due to it being a new specification course and teachers not having all the information they needed to teach.

The training gives us the background knowledge to understand the equipment we are working on. We are able to go into the workplace and understand the workings of the equipment and not just the process of doing the jobs. We're given the fundamental basics required to do the job. Our college qualifications ensure that we have the correct skills to go work in the workplace. It helps build our competency. I have found that things I have studied in the classroom have also come up at work.

As an apprenticeship we get involved in many careers fairs and engineering events as a big team. I've got involved in learn live broadcasts as well as women in STEM events at the airport. There's always something to get involved in. Each year we go to Outward Bound at the end of the school year. This is to allow all of us apprentices to work together and to get to know each other. This usually involves a two day hike, kayaking/canoeing, rock climbing, gorge walking and other outdoor activities. This trip helps to bring all the four years together and is an amazing experience. We join the IET as part of being in an IET approved apprentice. This gives us access to the IET community and many networking opportunities as well as lectures.

Yes

The airport has a family community. You can walk around and everyone seems to know everyone. People from all over the airport are there and happy to help us apprentices. Whether they work directly for the airport or are contractors. There's also so much to do here. It's a 24/7 operation and so there is such a large variety of jobs to do. On the engineering apprenticeship you get to work on basically everything. It rings true when they say that when you find a job that you love, you'll never work a day in your life. Most of the engineers at the airport came through the apprentice scheme and there are many that have been here for over forty years. It says something if you want to stick somewhere that long. This apprenticeship gives you a broad knowledge of all engineering aspects and gives you skills for life that you can use in everyday life.

Show how much you want it. In an interview they look for potential in a person. They want to see that you will work hard and that you have the motivation and drive to succeed. It always helps to have something to show that you are interested and it wasn't just a random job you picked up. Try creating a little project or fix a device. Actions speaks louder than words. Have examples ready for what you have done and why that helps give you great potential to be an engineer. As an employer, they won't know you, your interview is your chance to put yourself across.