Mechanical maintenance apprentice Review

My role is a mechanical maintenance apprentice. I am currently in my third year and due to graduate in August this year. Being a third year apprentice means we are out on site. We get moved every three months to go to different areas. I am currently working within the XTC team. Day to day this involves signing jobs on, making sure they are safe to carry out. Getting involved on the job, this could be fixing humidifiers, repairing pipework such a steam, fan maintenance. All jobs vary as there are many systems to maintain but they are typically what we do.

I have learnt so many new skills! I started my apprenticeship not knowing much, having come straight from college where I did an art and design course. During my time in the skills academy I learnt the basics of tools, how to take apart various components and systems and problem solving. When I went out on site these are the skills that I developed further. Being out on site gave me a real confidence boost. I was treated like another member of their team which really helped me to settle in. I taught about all the different systems in depth so I had a good understanding, i was taught about all the different tools and ways to use them. Looking back at where I started to now, I can’t believe how much I have learnt.

I have really enjoy being a mechanical maintenance apprentice. I have been taught so much and it’s made me feel like a better person. I feel like I have achieved a lot throughout my three years and it has given me something to be proud of. I am so happy that I applied.

I think the programme is very organised, from the moment when I started. We spend 18 months in the skills academy preparing us to go on site and then spend the rest of the time out on site. We attend college for one day a week for two academic years to complete our level 3 in engineering.

I have received a lot of support throughout my apprenticeship. Whether it is support for personal reasons or support when I have struggled with college or my work, I have always received it. I don’t think any other employer would be able to support their employees like AWE do.

We received a normal amount of support from our training provider, however if you needed any extra, it was not there. The college that we attended had various teachers in for set weeks and then they moved on. I found this difficult because if you did not complete an assignment in that time frame that was it. I struggled with the college course because we were learning things that I had never been familiar with and always felt the need for extra support. Despite asking for extra help with tasks and raising this to the skills academy at work, I still didn’t receive any.

I believe that having the qualifications help you to go further in the future. If we do well In our level 3 qualification, there is a chance for us to do further education. This is a great opportunity if you are looking to do well and progress in the company.

During my apprenticeship I have taken part in the team challenge event which is a charity event that awe organise. I have done this for two years in a row now and have loved getting involved. The apprentice academy also has a small group of people who organise events for the apprentices outside of work such as air soft.

Yes

AWE is a great company to work for. I would recommend the apprenticeship programme to anyone. Is it a great way to learn new skills and have a fantastic job at the end of it. It is a great way to start a new career and there are so many ways to progress.

My advice would to be get stuck in as much as you can. There are many opportunities to get yourself involved with such as the team challenge, the women in engineering event and other business events to promote the apprenticeship. It is a great way to get yourself known and work within teams.