Building Services Design Engineer Apprentice Review

I am involved with reviewing schematics and updating CAD designs. When I am in the office, I interact with my peers but I also work from home and I am provided with different tasks. I am responsible for ensuring that drawings and schematics have been looked over by my managers and I also have a look at them. I have worked on projects like the Peel Hunt project and had several site visits to see how everything functions.

I have developed my communication skills because I now work alongside other team members. I have also improved my listening skills because I am frequently provided with tasks, which I may not understand to begin with, so it is imperative to ask questions before or during the briefing. I have also developed my AutoCAD skills, and I am more comfortable with using the software. I have used it for my university coursework and I was comfortable with the task.

I enjoy going into work (when I can) and interacting with my team. I also enjoy having conversations with my peers and the conversations are not always work related. The company culture is of a high standard, since everyone respects each other and if there is a problem, it is always resolved. The programme has so far met all of my expectations and I am happy with how everything is going. I am enjoying my time with the company and excited to progress further.

The programme is structured very well. I was given an outline of my programme before officially joining the company and when I joined, I was provided with a brief overview of the programme. This involved what support I would receive, my study hours, being introduced to the team members and also having an in depth introduction with the company. I also completed online training courses for topics such as health and safety. I am now able to balance work life and university modules.

I am always receiving support from everyone in the company. We have online and sometimes in-person team meetings, where our manager provides an overview on how things are operating. This is a chance for me to ask any questions. I am also provided guidance with any problems that I face, I have also been given a mentor and I have frequent meetings with him, as well as being set with frequent task to complete. The HR team also support me whenever I face any problems.

I have a a tutor who I can email my queries to or I can arrange to set up a teams meeting. I am also able to ask any of my lecturers questions about the modules and I have their contact information so I can talk to them whenever I need to. I have also been provided with multiple free resources such as guides and website links. This means I can access help and I have different resources.

I am currently in my first year however, I am able to integrate my knowledge that I gain from work, to my university studies and vice-versa. This meant that software's like AutoCAD were much easier to understand since I have previously have a brief discussion with my mentor about it. I have also put my learnt theory into practice and an example would be learning how different systems function during university modules, and then being able to go on site and explain to my mentor (if he were to question me).

In the past, there have been many social events (before I joint the company) but due to the current problems we are facing, it is difficult to carry out any major group activities. There are options for these activities such as sports. I am able to join online classes though Microsoft teams and I can receive lectures on different topics. There are also company events that I will eventually attend, depending on the current situation.

Yes

It is a company which is made up of many apprentices (20%), meaning that they invest their time into ensuring that you get the best education and training, making you an asset to the company. You also get to be a part of a team that communicates with each other and you are regular updated on the company's progress. Furthermore, there is always someone you can ask for help. This is because they are either experienced engineers or they have done the task before.

I applied for the company via the Gov.uk website, and the online application was straight forward. I had a phone call to ensure me that the company wanted to interview me (my first interview). I was asked standard interview questions and was also able to ask any questions and showcase my previous work. After that I was told the following week that I was successful to attend the second interview. This would have also been done in person however I had an online interview because of the current pandemic. I was asked more detailed questions such as what interested my with the role and if I had any previous knowledge on the sector. I am still currently in my first year however, I have gained so much knowledge and I am always learning new things. It is important to research the sector and this company before applying however, if it is something that interests you, then I would highly recommend it.