CR-T-45 apprentice Review

Day to day basis involves a number of placements and projects within CR-T-45, and the wider plant. So far I have had placements on the production line and in the rework areas, soon to start one in the analysis department. I have also been managing my own small project within CR-T-45 from conception all the way to implementation. Finally university is two days a week with time allowed 1 day a week in work to complete university assignments

During work I have learned a lot about the corporate identity and corporate processes within the company. Furthermore this has allowed me to develop my knowledge and ability in the construction/assembly and disassembly of the vehicles from a quality assurance and quality control perspective. From a university point of view the content covered so far has just been recapping content covered at GCSE and ALEVEL, however this seems nessacary to ensure everyone is at the same knowledge level

The in-work evervironment in the department makes work very enjoyable, there is a very laid back attitude which gives me time and space to learn new things, but at the same time I am judged off of my ability, not off my age or the fact I’m an apprentice. On the other hand the university course is somewhat lacking as we are covering things already done at GCSE and alevel, furthermore the university treats us like full time students and assumes that we have the same flexibility which has caused a lot of stressful situations

Within the department the organisation is fairly good, occasionally it can be difficult to contact the relevant people if they are out of office. When communications go outside of the department however significant delays can often occur. The university’s organisation requires improvement, the structure seems to vary significantly between lecturers with communication being poor, often last minute or not being told things at all.

In terms of support for study time my manger is very generous, I’m given time within work hours to complete uni work, with extra study time allowed for exams and coursework if required. However in terms of academic support it is a struggle as I’m working towards a qualification higher than most people in my department have, which means I cannot ask my colleagues for help.

The support again varies incredibly from lecturer to lecturer, some are excellent lecturers that provide good quality support resources and respond to questions in a quick and helpful manner. Other lecturers provide the bare minimum in terms of support materials and either aren’t helpful with questions or do not respond at all. There is no set structure

Currently with the job role I have I have been unable to apply anything I’ve learnt at uni In work. However as I move into more complex placements I believe I will be able apply more of my skills and knowledge that I am building. Especially as we move into more practical based assignments in university

I am aware of several extra curricular activities that exist, such as shooting and golf. I’m am also aware of informal work meet-ups within departments however I don’t think these are officially sanctioned by the business. I’m also aware of the goblins within the business however this has been postponed due to Covid.

Yes

I have already recommended this to two friends, one works for one of the parts suppliers for the company and wants to get involved with the wider production of the cars. The other is the year below me in the school Greenpower team and we share many of the same interests and career aspirations, including Greenpower which helped me gain my position at rolls Royce. I’ve recommended the company to both as in my department there is a excellent positive attitude towards apprentices

Make sure you stand out with relevant work experience and hobbies, show that you are passionate about the brand and are willing to learn and apply your existing existing knowledge. This is because Rolls-Royce have a huge number of applicants applying for very few positions, which makes employee selection incredibly competitive.