Higher Mechanical Apprentice Review

I am a first year higher mechanical apprentice, so currently I spend two days in college doing practical work that can range from using Mills and Lathes to taking apart diesel engines, and another day working from home doing college lessons virtually.

I have definitely developed and learnt new skills so far. Coming into this apprenticeship, my primary practical experience had come from being in my school workshop doing mini projects, so being able to spend an extended period of time focussing only on practical skills has been really beneficial to me.

I enjoy the program the most when I am learning, for example stripping old pumps to learn about them, as opposed to just taking out nuts and bolts for no reason. With the pandemic some things are a little bit worse (like home learning), but overall I really enjoy myself.

I think some aspects are more organised than others, for example the theory work curriculum is structured well, but more recently on my practical days it feels like nothing has been organised and we are doing mindless work just for the sake of it.

I feel I get plenty of support from Babcock. Whilst I don't often speak face to face with anyone from the company, I know that if I ever needed to or if I had any problem at all that I could contact them and be helped.

I feel like I get more than enough support, the tutors are always available for one to one's if I need any help and they give us plenty of resources to learn from. I mostly feel that if I need more support, I can get it.

Currently, with my future career undecided, it's hard to know what's useful and what isn't. However, I think certain lessons like Engineering Science really help me better understand the trade, and if I were to go into something like CAD then I would feel well prepared.

Not currently, but if there were meant to be they would have been cancelled due to Covid.

Yes

Because they have some of, if not the, best apprenticeships in Plymouth. You're well looked after, the training is quality, they have a wide range of career paths, and the experience you can get in the dockyard can't be found elsewhere in the city.

Be yourself in the application and interview process, and show your enthusiasm for the trade. Keep yourself open to learning new things, and take every opportunity you can to improve your skills. Also, everybody learns at a different pace, so don't compare yourself to others.