Higher Mechanical Apprentice Review

I currently do a four day working week Monday-Thursday of which I'm based from home where I have moved into my final department of design. As well as revising for college in this time I have a design solution that I'm trying to overcome. Then on Friday is my college day of which I complete my higher education.

Yes, the entire first year was college based in that time we learnt to use all the heavy machinery in the workshop and all the hand tools and then after this we dismantled and rebuild a Paxman Valenta engine. Then this year working hands on for 6 months put all these skills to practice.

The program is really good and I definitely enjoy my job. The only downside for me is that during covid - 19 the college have delivered fairly poorly however this is something being amended imminently. The work side of things is brilliant and you see things you would never otherwise see or do.

It's a well structured program as they've had to adapt to the new syllabus as they have suddenly moved on from MVQ and my employer and manager has dealt with this very well and efficiently. We get set parts of our MVQ to start chipping away at which get marked the next day which is very useful for feedback.

Plenty of support is received. This ranges from guidance on how to structure our MVQ, to having reviews regarding college performance to mental health workshops which are put in place and sent out on a regular basis all of which cover a huge field and are all very valuable and helpful.

As previously stated there is loads of support for this for example our peers give feedback on an essay within a day normally and will state on there what amendments need to made and where and once that's completed to send it back and that will tick off that bit of criteria.

I feel like this has been the weak part of my apprenticeship as information for exams change last minute through the college and information for essays has been known to change very close to deadlines. In addition to this they closed my computer school account so I've had no access to materials until it got reactivated on Friday of which my exam is Wednesday.

Yes there's always small things that pop up however this is very difficult with the covid - 19 outbreak and lockdowns. For example there was an RC boat racing paid day of work against the navy last month which anyone was welcome to go to and when you get to different departments they seems to do their own little things.

Yes

Because if you're into engineering then this ticks all the boxes for me. The scale of everything you work on is just mesmerising and compared to university where you're left in debt without a potential job this is fully funded and with a job at the end of the line.

I think the main thing is to be on top of college work comping in as this can become very stressful if it piles up as there is definitely a lot to get through. However the apprenticeship itself is very easy going and everyone is really keen to help and guide you wherever need be.