Apprentice technical engineer Review

My role as an apprentice for british gas involves my time being divided between learning how to become a service and repair engineer for british gas by working alongside a qualified british gas engineer and gaining practical, on the job experience. The other side is attending a learning centre in dartford where I learn the theory of everything we need to know and how to pass our final exam (ACS)

I have improved my skills when it comes to communicating with customers in their home in explaining what I'm doing and dealing with the public in general whilst also implementing new practical skills I have learnt both in the centre and out on patch. I have also improved my soldering skills from when I was doing plumbing in college

I enjoy the overall experience of the course dispite the many complications that I've had to face throughout covid. The apprenticeship hasn't quite been what I expected but I think it's mostly due to the complications of covid and being stuck in lockdown. But overall it has been good and they've done all they can to continue the apprenticeship

It is relatively well organised and structured dispite the complications of covid which I understand cannot be helped. I have struggled in the past to find a mentor and could have recieved more support in finding the right person to mentor me through the apprenticeship. However it has been good all things considered

I recieve a good amount of support from my employer. There are loads of resources for us apprentices to look to for guidance, however as I mentioned before I have in the past felt like I needed more support in being assigned a mentor that was right for me. Overall though there is good support

There is a good amount of support from the trainers. However it has sometimes felt like in the past when I needed help with something when doing a practical task in the learning centre, not much help was provided and I was made to feel like a nuisance. Maybe it's a way of helping people figure stuff out on their own but I personally have found it difficult at times

I feel that the training I have recieved has been excellent in helping me improve in my role. I feel well equipped to deal with customers and am getting better with my practical knowledge and applying it to my day to day work. Overall the training quality is of a very high standard

Unfortunately there have not been any extra curriculum events for us apprentices to take part in. I think mainly because of covid we have been obstructed from doing such things but as far as I am aware there usually would be things for people to take part in like playing football

Yes

I would recommend it because it is a good job and career for someone with an excellent standard of training being offered to people. I have already recommended a friend who wanted to apply for a smart engineer apprenticeship role and told him it was a good idea for him to join

Be prepared to work hard and be prepared to have to absorb a lot of knowledge. There is a lot to learn on the apprenticeship but only if you are willing to apply yourself and not try to cut corners. Also be sure it is what you want to do as a career