Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

As an apprentice the work is wide ranging and varied. For the first 6 months you complete practical training which provides a greater appreciation of the basics of engineering. After this, you then move into 6 placements that last for 5 months each. These placements provide real life engineering experiences across a wide array of domains and systems allowing you to further your engineering knowledge/experience.

Throughout the apprenticeship you learn new skills/information. This is one of the benefits of moving around the company within the placements as you will be provided with new experiences on different aspects of the engineering lifecycle and on different aircraft programmes. In addition to this, you also work towards a number of qualifications, including a Diploma and a Degree.

The programme has been very enjoyable. The ability to move around the company and experience different teams and the work that they are involved in is something that has interested me very much. Furthermore, the ability to achieve a Degree in Aerospace Engineering along with additional vocational qualifications is something else that really made this this apprenticeship stand out for me.

I think the programme is very well organised and structured. All main aspects of the apprenticeship (i.e. the Degree, Diploma and the Placement work) are linked well due to the fact that there are Skills coaches which look after the apprentices and ensure that they are on target and meeting any expectations that are required of them.

Although it is expected that you are to be relatively self sufficient and manage your own time there is always someone there to help if ever it is required. Additionally, undergoing progress reviews every 12 weeks ensures that the programme managers/skills coaches are aware of anything and everything that is going on and any issues or concerns that you may have are quickly acted upon.

Because Degree lectures are completed in smaller groups, rather than large seminars, there is a lot more one on one contact with lecturers if you wish to have it. Furthermore, all lecturers are very approachable should you have any issues or queries with the lecture content. The Degree/College progress is also reviewed during the 12 weekly reviews to ensure that each apprentice is on track and someone from the College is always in support of the reviews should you wish to raise any specific concerns.

The work undertaken as part of the Degree has been specially designed/created to make it relevant for work within BAE Systems and so ties nicely into your role. Furthermore, the completion of the Diploma requires you to take a more retrospective look at the work that you have completed throughout your placements whilst relating it to the Diploma competencies.

If you wish, there are a number of extra-curricular activities that you can involve yourself with. You can take part in stretch assignments to further your engineering knowledge which may be outside the scope of your placement. You could become a STEM Ambassador, supporting STEM activities internally and externally, and there are also a number work sports teams that you could involve yourself with.

Yes

So far I have enjoyed myself within BAE and the skills and knowledge that I have gained from the course have been immeasurable. If you are interested in the engineering profession then this type of scheme is the best way to get into it as you get the benefit of gaining a Degree, whilst also getting a number of years experience in the process which wouldn't be possible if an ordinary degree was completed.

I would recommend applicants to highlight any engineering extra-curricular activities that you partake as it shows that you have a real interest in engineering if your doing things in your own time. Additionally, take time and care to complete the application to a high standard as it is evident when the application has been rushed.