Engineering Undergraduta Apprentice Review

We work in different placements throughout the factory is Broughton, I am currently working in the design team for the A350. This means that I am focusing on improving the build and the product with the aim of making the plane more efficient to fly and to manufacture. This involves everything from running team meetings to ensure that the correct processes are being followed to meet the objectives needed when making a design change. To physically making the drawing changes and the changes on the CAD software we use (CATIA). Other placements have been in Quality - ensuring the plane is made to the correct standards. And a 'Manufacturing Engineering' role, which entails making sure that the build runs smoothly, and improving the build process.

I've learned some coding, I've learned a new CAD software, there are unlimited processes in Airbus which I have learned - all which are very transferable. For example we use a process called "G-Docs" to help us monitor the progress of any project, this is an Airbus process but there are many other companies which use this sort of thing. Making the skill very transferable. I have also matured and lot and got a lot better at talking to large groups of people and approaching people.

This program has been really good in a lot of ways. The factory work is really interesting (as covered before). The university work gets very stressful but you just need to stay organized and on top of it. There is a program called gen-A which is used to make sure that there are social events for apprentices and graduates which means that there are ways to meet people - but it is not as social an experience as university and there definitely is not as much freedom - which is a good and bad thing. If you really want to do loads of sports and go out loads and have the typical university experience, then this isn't the place. But to get good experience and understand engineering, advance your career and get a free degree its great.

There have been some issues with my year. This could be because the intake more then doubled in my year, but there have been issues when it comes to university. In terms of the day to day there is a very strong structure to the program. Which I think is an and advantage over university, I think this strong structure in the week drives me to be more productive.

If you need it is there. The course is very stressful at times and it can feel like it is getting on top of you, but I have known people who have needed to spend a few weeks at home and that has been ok - keeping up with university in their own time. The Early Careers team are supportive and offer meeting to discuss issues.

The college is one of the weak parts of the training, because we get the degree from Swansea - which is 3 hours away, we go to a college called Deeside Coleg Cambria. This is the most disappointing part of the course, the lecturers aren't university lecturers until the 3rd year and the college really doesn't seem very supportive. Although they were very good as sorting out my SEN stuff - which is good.

There are a lot of supplementary courses to the degree - which go towards making things more stressful, we do an NVQ level 3 and 4. A few ILM and a couple other things. I think overall these are good but they can make things more stressful. The degree has been very highly tailored to Airbus and is therefore very focused on aircraft and manufacturing as well. In the first 6 months of the degree course you are in College full time to complete a hands on NVQ level 3 - this is a very easy few months but also gets quite boring as there are a lot of very slow hand skills such as filling and sanding. But it teaches you to read drawings and understand the tolerance's and ethos of the company. Also these extra courses look very good on a CV along with everything else.

There is a team called Gen-A, this is used to get the apprentices and the graduates together to do events. There is football on a Wednesday, there is GoKarting starting soon, there are often drink nights in Chester in pay day and a lot of other one off events like charity tournaments, The other advantage is that as there is such a large number of people they are very excited to take any new ideas for groups, like a language group has recently started to get people learning languages from the German and French students. But anything would be welcome. There are also lots of clubs in Chester, I have joined a cricket team which seems to be 80% Airbus employees despite being an independent team. So there are lots of options.

Yes

Although there are frustration and things which you miss out on from the typical university experience (like the looong holidays and the social life) the experience, the lack to debt, the other courses and how it forces you to mature and grow into an adult means that long term it is fully worth it.

Learn all you can about the company before going for interview. They like to know that you care, learn about the factories, the different aircraft (especially commercial) and the issues the company faces. Its all in the news or on their website. Show you care and the interview is easy. Also get as much aerospace or engineering related experiences as you can, again they are looking for people whos application shows they have an interest in the field and don't just want a free degree and a wage.