Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

Four days a week I am in a placement, completing work for my NVQ level 4 qualification. Once a week I attend university on day release. We do 6 month placements, so depending on what placement you're in, the work varies. Sometimes you can have a really good placement, sometimes it's a little dull.

Yes. My university work is developing my maths skills. At work, my training has helped improve my ability to communicate and work with others, as well as using all of the different platforms.

Overall, it varies. Sometimes I find my programme incredibly rewarding, other times I find it extremely tiring and demotivating because of the amount we have to juggle. The one day at university is 12 hours long, which can feel exhausting. I have made good friends and contacts in industry however.

Quite well organised. Most of the problems we have had with organisation have come from the university, not the company itself. Any issues we have had we have raised to our Apprentice Development Leader, who has rectified the problems swiftly.

Quite a lot of support. Our Apprentice Development Leader is very supportive and always there if we need to talk. Additionally, as previously mentioned, whenever we have had problems with the university, the company has applied pressure to ensure our issues are dealt with swiftly.

It varies. Sometimes lecturers are incredibly supportive and easy to contact, other times they are very difficult to get hold of. In places, there is a lack of understanding from the university as to the different pressures of apprentices who have less time available than full time students.

Through my degree and level 4 qualifications, I have developed skills and gained confidence, thereby performing better in my placements.

Yes, we have the Apprentice Association, which works a little like a university society, organising social events with graduates and apprentices alike.

Yes

Although it is incredibly hard work, we are generally very well-supported by the company compared to other apprentices.

Make sure you read up on the company and gas turbine engines for your interview, be confident in presentation and ensure that you are able to work well in a team.