Manufacturing Degree Apprentice Review

Working in the Machine Shop to solve problems and develop systems to improve efficiency of machining

Time Management, Process Management, Excel, CAD, CAM, Engineering Drawings, General Engineering Knowledge

I enjoy to day to day with the team I work with, but BAE processes can be slow and difficult to a point of demoralisation.

The overall structure is well defined, but things are often left to the last minute by Early Careers. College staff turn around is incredibly high due to low wages, making for bad planning and wasted college days.

Early Careers are generally supportive of any extra learning required and will help to provide any services needed

Due to the high turn over off staff, college support varies drastically, with the quality of each module being down to who specifically is teaching it.

For most roles within BAE, college will be mostly unconnected as you will learn anything you need to be able to do via your team

There are lots of activities organised by people within the company to get involved with alongside things like STEM Ambassadors and opportunities to go to events with your team.

Yes

Even with the many downsides to working there, the degree is paid for with no strings attached (you could choose to leave at any time and owe them nothing) and its a good company to have on your CV when you leave.

Expect the bureaucracy of the company along with security processes to make things go incredibly slowly at times, but there is little pressure as an apprentice the vast majority of the time.