Manufacturing Engineering Review

As part of the apprenticeship, I have been able to go on multiple placements across the business, due to this, there is no defined job role for my year. My current placement/job role consists of managing projects of between £2000 - £80,000, working on facilities management and infrastructure. Working with data & data development to create dashboard and deep-dive reports for managements and problem solving.

I have learnt over the last 4 years how to manage a project and work with suppliers to fulfil projects within a timescale. Architectural and mechanical engineering design systems to a proficient level for job roles within RR. People management and people skills to work with teams from 2-20 people.

For the first 2 years, I personally did not enjoy the apprenticeship due to the lack of management and plan for apprentice, but as i started to get into my placements within other departments, i was able to learn and perform to a standard which i enjoyed, which has now landed me in a job where i can show my skills.

Over the last 4 years, the apprentice organisation structure has changed at least twice, the first didn't work and there was no real set plans, which i was able to use to my advantage and plan my own way forward. With the new team involved, there is more mentoring, more support, a bit more organisation and it looks like it can turn into a great apprenticeship compared to when i started.

Due to the position i am in now, the support isnt needed and i dont ask for it, however if i did need the support, i know that there is some there. I have always had the odd 1:1 for support which has helped me progress, and i can easily drop a meeting in the calendar with my line manager if i need it.

The training provider used throughout the apprenticeship has been mixed. The first 2 years I had great support when needed and the qualification & content for myself was good for experience. The second 2 years have been very mixed, some lectures have been good, some have been bad, with no real support network to get you through the qualification, support can be delayed and is easier to save questions up and ask in the next lesson. It is agreeable that at Level 4/5, the student shouldn't need as much support, but it has been challenging at times with the level of support. In all the experience has been good for me, but i know others haven't.

In my experience, only two units out of 20 units has helped me perform better in my role, but this is due how i progressed through the company and gone off track to what was originally planned from when i started. If i stated on the original plan, only half the units would have been useful in an engineering or quality function.

No

Yes

I would recommend it to anyone looking for a better way of learning hands on skills or general mechanical engineering. It is also a great way into the company and there are great prospects within the business to go into a department which you may find interesting

Learn about the company, inside and out, the place is run on history, the more you know, the better. Also upload all the documents it asks for, otherwise you will fall before you even get looked at.