Aerofitter and Inspector Review

As trainee fitters/ inspectors, we shadow workers in building and stripping of engines, engine parts and modules, or when shadowing the inspector, we check the condition of all parts and the work of the fitter

With only limited time in the workshop due to Covid-19, some new skills have been learnt. Mainly to do with the jobs and how to do them and the use of different tools.

To be honest, not too much. Not sure whether this is because how badly the apprentices get treated, or whether this be because of how terrible our ADL is, or due to the terrible pay, could be any of these. Although the actual shop floor work is enjoyable, unfortunately this is overshadowed by very very poor management/ ADL and how we get treated

College is well organised but other than that, everything else is terribly organised. Things change constantly, and it's virtually impossible to keep up. For example; induction forms are always changing, how reviews work are always changing, logs are changing, group calls are always changing. etc. It is impossible to keep up and makes it very hard to settle when it will likely just change in a couple of weeks.

Not much. Apparently our manager is suppose to be a safeguarding officer, but I would never feel comfortable going to him. If we question something or do not understand something, we get a patronising response of "re-read the message again", there is no support in place, even when we ask for it or simply ask a question. We just constantly get met with snide comments which make us feel unwelcome. No good work is acknowledged really, so it makes the apprentices demotivated and uninterested.

College is much more supportive. They try and push apprentices through the system as well as possible. Extra help is always offered or when we ask for it, lecturers are happy to give extra help and put on extra sessions or speak to learners 1-1 which is nice. Feedback is mostly done on time as well which gives us help on what to work on with the next assignment which is also very helpful / useful.

I like college, and it can be interesting, but i'm not sure how relatable it is to what we do in the workplace. For example, we learn theory of flight and materials and maths, none of this is used within the workplace. We do not learn any fitting or inspecting in college really so most of the learning to do with that happens when we move out of full time college and go into full time work and day release to college. Most of the skills learnt within my role, have come from working on the shop floor and having the workers there teach and help me

I don't think so?

No

I feel the company relies more on the name rather than making it an enjoyable experience and it just doesn't work. Complaints after complaints are made but actually nothing is done.

Maybe consider all options and whether the 4+ year commitment is right for everyone.