Material Laboratories Apprentice Review

Placements vary, some placements are for development or manufacturing or in service components. Using large equipment such as Scanning electron microscopes and other machinery to identify material properties, failures or areas of concern. Researching and assisting with new technologies and improving current processes. Working is flexible for working hours (as long as you do your contractual amount) and currently very flexible with working from home and only going onto site if needed. trusted to carry out large projects and run them with external suppliers and companies

Yes, on top of the copius amounts of knowledge that I have gained from subject experts in their fields, I have been able to balance workload as well as increeasing my time management skills. communication has also been widely improved due to having to report findings to managers and customers. My interpersonal skills have been boosted too, I now openly talk to people without help when explaining complex problems. This is helped by training courses we did at the start of the scheme where we were taught presentation skills and also presenting findings during placements and at university

I have really enjoyed most aspects of the program, I enjoy the people I meet a lot and they all have differing helpful views that can be insigtful to me and my progression. The placements and tasks are very fun but there is also some subjectively boring aspects but that's part of the job. You do tasks from start to end so you get a feel for all aspects of the job. I enjoy University as it gives me the knowledge to bolster the skills that I learnt in the workplace and I get to see the academic side of the Apprenticeship

As a whole, the program is very well structured but could do with some changes and standardisation between schemes, RR has a fair few apprenticeship schemes and some get more attention than others. There have been some blips where the organisation has been sub-par, namely recently in a restructuring there were a lot of questions being asked about who we report to on placements and who we go to if we have any issues. These were sorted eventually. The work structure can look confusing initially but eventually makes sense. Inductions and Triaining depend on the placement but I have not had any issues. University is very well organised and meetings are usually planned well in advance unless it is a high priority.

In one word: Lots! We have so many people that we can reach out to if needed and they are all very useful, it is one of the first things we are told about; where to get help. We have development leaders, union reps, HR Teams, Aviva helplines and all of them are willing to help you. If you don't know where to go, someone does and there's pages on the intranet outlining where you can get help from. We also have access to University help systems if needed. Our progress and wellbeing is also monitored in reviews.

We have a personal academic tutor that we can meetings with who has lots of knowledge (mine has is a doctor in the field that I study) we also have a workplace contact which bridges the gap between work and uni. If we have any issues, they are usually sorted very quickly or appropriately escalated to the correct person. They seem to really enjoy supporting us and make themself accessible to helping us if we need.

They really help with academic understanding from skills that we learnt practically and again bridging the gaps between concepts. It also helps show me why things happen that may have not been explained to be when learning practically. It allows me to have two views of understanding as the company and university which makes it easier to understand if I cannot grasp a concept. I am supported well on both sides which helps. on the can also help the other way round, if I don't understand a university concept, someone at work can also help me understand

Pre-Pandemic, I was able to attend networking events and making myself known to other employees of the company as well as contractors. I am also a STEM ambasador which allowed me to go to schools and promote STEM activites. There was also a leisure centre owned by the company where we get discounted access and can join teams in most sports such as tennis, rugby and football. Post Pandemic, we can join online social events and network or just have fun. It allows us to maintain that connection with others even if we were working from home.

Yes

It is a large company with a very good repuatation for quality. there are loads of benefits too, lucrative pension schemes, share purchase oppurtunites, company car schemes and more! As an apprentice, we get access to all of this. You can also learn on the job from subjects in their fields, everyone is really accomodating and there are lots of ex-apprentices that are able to help you with yours, There is a good progression ladder and plenty of roles to try

The application process can be quite long but stick at it. Its worth it in the end. Interviews can be scary - they will keep on asking questions and you will likely not know the answer, but use logic and reasoning because that's what they're looking for. Don't just say "I don't know" and take a second to think. Make yourself stand out from the offset with other applicants as you don't know who is watching. Be nice to everyone and ask plenty of questions!