Advanced Business Apprentice Review

My role within my time at the company has been a Business Apprentice. As a result, I have currently been through 4 placements in different areas of the company which has resulted in an enormous variety of tasks and a large network of contacts built up. There is plenty of opportunity to progress through the training courses provided by those leading the apprenticeship and this in turn has contributed to an overall great experience.

I believe the this role has definitely improved/developed my IT skills as well as my communication skills. This is because the tasks at hand require use of Office or other software. I had minimal experience prior to joining but over the placements I have picked up skills from my managers and team members. Also, communicating with various people frequently has improved my confidence and social skills.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the programme and look forward to what is to come. The opportunities to learn and also to develop yourself in different placements are vast and I believe it has certainly contributed to a better experience. All employees I have met including the teams which I had through the placements were extremely supportive and I truly felt their passion to help me and others develop into more experienced individuals.

As this was the first attempt at a home based induction/programme, I would say there were certain areas where it did not fulfil my expectations. As a first time it was as well planned as it could be, with a 6 month delay (only for this cohort) to allow the induction to go as smoothly as possible. However, the communication was sometimes not clear and resulted in confusion amongst the apprentices regarding certain aspects. However, no miscommunication/confusion was too major and as a result things proceeded relatively quickly. The support and teaching from the training providers is a positive highlight for me as I believe they have created a great environment for us during sessions and also built great relations with each apprentice. Overall, the programme itself is well planned but COVID resulted in some miscommunication/errors which I believe will be minimised as they have inducted another cohort since.

The support throughout the programme for me has been perfect. The balance of independency and support from my line managers has been exactly suited to my preference. This meant I was able to attempt tasks myself and seek support whenever I required. Similarly, the support from the coaches has been perfect. I always feel welcomed and the coaches have always made themselves easily approachable to speak to regarding any matter. The general attitude of the company in supporting it's apprentices is very positive and it is clear everyone wants the apprentices to become experienced indivduals to secure the company's future.

As mentioned, the coaches/training providers provide a great amount of support throughout the apprenticeship. It is very easy to contact and reach out to them for advice or support regarding any matter. They have definitely helped in making the apprenticeship enjoyable with positive attitudes and great guidance on tasks or general advice you may seek.

I believe the experience of the role itself offers more value than the content of the qualification. The qualification consists more of learning about the basics of business such as stakeholders, communication, the organisation etc. Though this does add value particularly as there is always something new to learn, it does improve upon the bare basics and allows you to apply some of the knowledge within your role.

There is a wide variety of opportunities to be involved within extra curricular activities. Recently a charity football game was run involving BAE employees from various areas. There are also other opportunities such as becoming an editor for newsletters and joining network events to socialise with employees across the world.

Yes

If you wish to pursue a career in a company that values it's apprentices I would highly recommend BAE Systems. The business apprentice programme is very well developed and the opportunity to progress to the variety of different areas/sectors within the business is a key highlight for young people.

When applying to BAE Systems I advise researching as much about the company as you can including the work it does and the locations it is based. This will help during the application and interview process as it can show your passion for the company. Furthermore, I would recommend you look thoroughly at the apprenticeships offered and ensure you select the right one for yourself, using reviews such as this to support your decision and learn more about the programme.