Engineering Higher Apprentice Review

As an Engineering Higher Apprentice (EHA), the daily tasks vary broadly depending on the placement they are undertaking. 4-Month placement rotations ensure that apprentices garner a wide range of experience in roles, ranging across multiple disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical and civil. Roles can range from Project Engineering, to Design, to support functions such as Quality and Product Safety Engineering. Role responsibilities change with placement, but are defined by the manager before starting and are reviewed upon to check progress. Apprentices take on responsibilities and contribute heavily to the teams they are based in. Tasks such as organising contractors, performing external audits and communicating with the customer in projects are possible examples of day-to-day external interactions. Internally, communicating with team members and related projects is a regular occurrence. Additionally, communicating with other apprentices about STEM opportunities and outreach is a regular responsibility.

Soft skills are used and improved upon daily. Skills such as communicating effectively, developing working relationships and effective time management are utilised in all tasks, and thus are improved upon throughout the duration. These skills are essential to thriving in a professional environment. Technical skills are also developed. Technical qualifications, such as the HNC & Level 4 NVQ, develop technical knowledge in the apprentices, which then applied to the workplace. This ensures a good baseline for young engineers, improve upon previous knowledge, as well as introduce them to aspects of engineering they previously wouldn't have considered. Other types of training are available, such as safety training, which allow apprentices to perform tasks in specific conditions safely within the business. Internal training can also provide a strong basis in aspects of engineering and/or support functions, such as Introductory Product Safety courses. This scheme also provides an external, professional development course. This takes place at Outward Bound, at which EHA's & Project Management Apprentices from multiple sites are grouped together to overcome physical challenges, developing personal communication, analysis decision making skills, which can be effectively applied to the professional environment.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the apprenticeship thus far. The extent at which I have developed from a student to a professional is immense, by increasing my understanding of technical engineering knowledge, as well as soft skills such as effectively communicating points between colleagues. I consistently recommend this apprenticeship to those I know, and regularly participate in STEM Outreach, where I can describe my experience students and recommend the apprenticeship. The work is challenging and engaging, and makes real contributions to the team/projects that your working in. The teams themselves are helpful, and often help apprentices with difficult tasks or learning the role. The company promotes a positive work environment, which is evident in all sites.

The scheme itself has an induction week at the beginning, introducing the EHA's to the site ,explaining what the scheme will contain and providing time to for the cohort to introduce themselves between each other, the other apprentices and the Early Careers management. Training consists mostly of on the job, learning the placement role throughout the duration of said placement by performing tasks and raising queries with colleagues. However, internal training can be provided depending on business need, and external training towards technical qualifications, such as a HND, takes place at the training provider. Time is allocated towards study and completion of coursework (2 hours per week) in every placement. Support can be provided from both the placement teams and the EHA management. Regular, 12 Week Reviews are incorporated to ensure that the progress of each EHA is being monitored consistently, and to check to see if they require any additional support. The team hierarchy is made clear to all apprentices, but is also visible via the internal websites.

Support is available from various different avenues. The EHA manager has access to various support options, and can also contact HR to aid with any issues. Issues such as IT can be resolved efficiently, either by contacting IT directly over the phone or by using an online logged ticket system. Responses are often quick, and provide effective results.

Lecturers at the training provider are very helpful with questions about the learning, and their own background experience in industry helps aid the help they can provide, and extenuating circumstances documents are found on each modules page in case of such as situation. They provide constructive feedback to enable EHA's to improve, and are often flexible with issues we have due to our work conditions. I thoroughly enjoy working towards my qualification at the training provider.

The high level baseline provided to EHA's on engineering is very useful in the workplace, significantly improving performance in the roles available as placements. Knowledge of these aspects improves the efficiency of certain tasks, and applying what was learnt in the classroom to a practical, real world application is highly satisfying. It also develops a broader scope of the engineering industry and the roles and tasks within it, which can be applied to all roles to further understanding of the tasks involved with a certain action or project.

There are extra-curricular activities available to EHA's. The Outreach program works extensively with the Early Careers teams, and often rely on apprentices to help perform STEM activities at outreach events. These are completely voluntary, and can range from careers fairs within the local community, the nationwide STEM Fairs at sites far away from the EHA's base location. Professional Networking Events occur regularly, allowing apprentices to meet staff from different projects or business units, make connections, and potentially work there. Other events, such as Mental Health Awareness events, are often site wide, and apprentices are invited to these too. Regarding social events, different projects and teams have out of work social activities. The entire EHA cohort regularly run social activities as well, such as 5-a-side football teams and organised Christmas Do's.

Yes

The Engineering Higher Apprenticeship has enable me to develop into a competent, professional engineer, by developing my technical knowledge and soft skills. It has also introduced me to elements of engineering I hadn't considered before, broadening my avenues for progression. I have also developed a professional network of contacts, as well as a good friendship group with EHA's across all cohort years.

BAE Systems are looking for people with a desire to learn and grow to be apprentices. When applying, be sure to get across you're eagerness to learn, and demonstrate areas which you applied yourself to a challenge in order to develop your own skills. It is also important to have a deep interest in STEM subjects, that you can communicate with people effectively, eagerness to attempt new things and to be friendly and helpful to those around you. The application process consists of English and Maths aptitude tests. The interview days often consist of team based activities (an area to demonstrate effective communication and self-improvement) and a one to one interview. Make sure to read up about the business and major projects being undertaken, alongside knowledge of pre-existing products and engineering terms.