Aerospace Engineering Apprentice Review

At the moment I am going through a department rotation plan. I am currently in Materials Test and I have carried out some aircraft component inspections to ensure they are up to the quality standards required, and I have also carried out some non destructive testing on an aircraft. I have also assisted with performing X-rays on components to look and assess any damage.

I have learnt so many new skills and enhanced some of the skills I already have a huge amount. the role is challenging and is different every day, which means there's no shortage of skills to learn and build upon. They range from manual and physical skills like soldering, to more complicated things involving computers and excel data.

I thoroughly enjoy the programme. It is challenging and varied, and I get to learn so many different things whilst simultaneously working towards my NVQ/BTEC and directly contributing to the company. I meet a lot of new people and I get to talk to a variety of departments about a whole host of things, and that doesn't even include community contributions and extracurricular things!

The programme structure has been very well organised and has made it much less stressful than it could be. We are lucky at the Brough site to have an excellent training team and they make it so easy to understand what needs to be done for our NVQ criteria and they help support us out in the business too.

I have received plenty of support from my employer over the years I have been here and it is safe to say that they will do a lot to ensure that you're safe, happy, and supported where needs be. sometimes you might have to take the action yourself but they have been so accommodating with support I have needed.

I receive a lot of support from my training providers both on site and off. We often have meetings to go over evidence logs and well go through every criteria one by one to ensure I have it all ticked off and referenced correctly, and it makes working towards our NVQ so much easier.

because of the way we have to write evidence logs and reference criteria within our units, it really makes you think about the tasks you've done in each department and how the criteria fit with each one. it means you have to assess what you do and link it to the right things, and it helps you to see where you might need to do some extra training to cover various criteria.

There are a number of wellbeing groups and activities run on a lunchtime, and these are very varied. As well as that, us apprentices can get stuck into STEM activities to encourage younger students to get more involved in STEM subjects, and to help recruit more people into the business.

Yes

I would strongly recommend anyone who has an interest in STEM subjects, or even just a curiosity, to get to an open event to have a learn about the company. its a fantastic company to work for and they value their employees greatly, and there are so many opportunities to advance and learn.

I would make sure you've got loads of great examples of things you've done in your application. Its good if you have loads of academic achievements, but its even better if you've done extra stuff, like Scouts, or Duke of Edinburgh. It shows you're a more rounded person and that you put in effort, as well as showing that you are enthusiastic.