Engineering Undergraduate Apprentice Review

My apprenticeship is a 4 year course, consisting of various work placements and studies for a degree in Aerospace Engineering. The work placements are typically 3 months in duration and allow me to apply my learning to real situations, whilst also developing my professional skills. As an apprentice in Airbus, we are given a lot of responsibility in the work we do. With this responsibility, there is also a huge amount of support from team members, who will guide apprentices through tasks when required. The work on site makes up 3 days of the week, whilst the other 2 days are for studying our degree.

During the apprenticeship I have learnt and developed many engineering skills. From work on site, I have developed my teamwork, confidence and engineering knowledge. I have also developed organisational and time management skills when balancing the work for the company and university. During my time so far, I have also taken part in many company training sessions, which have developed skills in professionalism and communication.

So far, I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship. The teams that I have worked in have been supportive, and go out of their way to help those with less experience. The work is really interesting and can be very rewarding when completed. The company culture is very positive and supports the development of apprentices.

The structure and organisation of the programme is good, with the overall breakdown being explained during the induction period. Many training sessions are spread across the scheme, some including weeks away to develop skills. Monthly support meetings with managers allow us to express any concerns or queries we have. Balancing University, work and training can cause some parts of the scheme to be busier than others, but this is to be expected in any development scheme.

There is a huge amount of support available from the employer. The teams we work in are very supportive and will assign tasks that will help develop skills and improve engineering knowledge. Our managers respond to our feedback and make changes to the scheme when required. They also regularly have 1-to-1 meetings with us to ensure we are happy in the workplace and to identify any areas they can support in.

Our training provider has online resources where we can access all the information required for our qualifications, alongside our lectures. The staff are also contactable by email for any queries. The quality of teaching is generally good. The training provider also helps to organise the scheme with the University to ensure we have the correct support.

In some placement areas, my qualification will be very applicable, however in others the qualification may not improve my performance at all. This is due to the nature of the work in different areas. Some require direct application of theories and equations, whereas others are more based on engineering judgement, which develops with experience in industry.

The company has various activities that employees can be involved in. There is a football league, where the teams are made from employees of Airbus. Musicians can join music groups within the company. Teams often have team building events, or social activities. Regular networking events allow communication between employees from different business areas and countries.

Yes

I would recommend the apprenticeship due to the ability to study for a degree, gain valuable workplace experience and earn a salary. I would recommend Airbus specifically due to the company's attitude towards apprentices, and the support that is available. Airbus is also a great company to have experience with, due to its reputation within the industry - which is great when looking at career development.

Applicants should be prepared to work hard and to be given a lot of responsibility. The company is very supportive, but to achieve at university, whilst also completing the work for placements, requires hard work. If you are prepared for this, then the apprenticeship is a brilliant opportunity, and a great way to start a career.