Engineering Apprentice Review

My role as an engineering apprentice at Gatwick involves spending time on various engineering sections at the airport and learning how to maintain the equipment and facilities they look after whilst working as a team to do so. Along side this I also complete qualifications at college that aids my understanding of how different systems and components operate.

I have learnt an abundance of new skills as well as further developed already existing skills. These include working safely around electrical systems and knowing where and how to identify the cause of various faults. Other integral skills I've developed at the airport are communication and working as part of the team.

I very much enjoy the programme I'm on to the extent that I don't find it a hassle coming into work early or late for nights shift. I like being part of the team maintaining the airport as well as coming across challenging faults to resolve.

The programme is very well structured where I know the exact pathway I'm on and what I have to manage such as my NVQ, college qualification and EPA (End Point Assessment) whilst staying up to date with online training provided by Gatwick. I know everything I have to do and nothing is sprung on me as a surprise.

At Gatwick I am able to receive plenty of support should I need it whether reasons are work related or whether external factors are playing a part. I can receive support for countless of reasons and have done for example when needing help on a college assignment from technicians. Any other factor increasing in magnitude I feel very confident I could go to my manager with.

East Surrey College lecturers in my experience have always been very happy to help when I have questions about the topic or directly relating to assignment questions. They have always made time to help and will make sure you understand before moving on.

Topics covered at East Surrey College often apply to work we carry out at the airport and therefore do help me to perform better in my role. Although airport systems and facilities are specialised, the working theory of what is learnt at the college can be transferred to these systems. The college work is heavily theoretically where working at the airport applies the knowledge in hands on work.

In normal circumstances there are many activities to get involved in over the year that unfortunately have been cancelled lately due to corona virus. These activities are often focused around STEM activities such as the Big Bang events and Primary Engineering where we show off engineering to primary schools. Other social activities consist of learn live and these are all accessible for us to take part in and for people to come to day events or watch learn live on Facebook.

Yes

I would and have recommended Gatwick as a career to friends for many reasons like its high starting salary, Gatwicks willingness to get us our various qualifications and the fact of actually feeling valued as part of the business. Its also interesting and varied work where you're not doing the same work day to day.

The advice I would give is to have genuine interest in engineering systems and to be enthusiastic about being hands on as work at the Airport is. When applying I made sure I knew a bit of history and facts about Gatwick Airport as it shows immediate interest that offers may not.