Maintenance Degree Apprentice Review

My role at Rolls Royce Motor Cars includes supporting functions such as Control engineering, technician and IT-PEG for production. I have spent 1 year working on IT-PEG roles and now I have moved over to learning Control Engineering topics such as PLC programming, breakdowns and project work. I work alongside Engineers at Rolls-Royce.

Coming into this apprenticeship with Rolls Royce, I had previously worked at Honda UK manufacturing as an apprentice so had already been in the workplace for 2 years learning mechatronics. Moving into Rolls-Royce I studied IT-PEG which includes supporting all production devices, patching those devices and building new replacements when required. Now, I am learning Control Engineering topics and have had training to the BMW Group standard and spent a few months with the Control Engineers and certain suppliers.

Recently I have started to enjoy my role, starting my apprenticeship in the middle of Covid did not help as it meant I had to work from home for months and this impacted the way I integrated into the department. Now, as I am on site everyday and working 1-1 with engineers and suppliers I am enjoying the apprenticeship more, and learning more.

My program is poorly structured. It has always been down to me to organize my placements, even to schedule 1-1 with managers. It has been self driven even in terms of learning from engineers and putting my self forward for weekends and certain jobs/ projects. I do not know what the over plan is for the next 2.5 years and i certainly do not even know if there is a job for me at the end of my Apprenticeship.

I have received moderate support from my employer, if there is anything I want/ need then it is down to me to organize that or try and get it myself. Only recently have we received more support from the new training supervisors as the previous individual was sick for a long period of time. There is support for me in terms of funding if I need it and I am allowed to work any overtime that means I can learn.

My training provider is the University of Chichester and the only support I receive is from individual lecturers in the form of revision sessions. There is support for mental health and anything else you may need. However, there is no support between University and Work. I feel they are two completely separate things and there is no link. I have had no review with University and work for the academic year 21/22

I do not feel my University qualification support me in any way for my role at work. There is no links to the units I study and the topics I cover at work. The course I am on is so broad that I am learning about things I will never put in place at work. The only link there has been is a workplace project.

Yes there is plenty of extra-curricular activities to get involved with, such as endless sporting teams, Apprentice Newsletter, Apprentice SharePoint and Apprentice Network teams. There is also school events that can be attended and things such as build a go kart with local schools. Finally, there is work drinks and apprentice events planned in.

Yes

I feel now that the support is there from the Apprentice Trainers the experience in the apprenticeship should be better. But it does also go down to the individual hiring manager and how they treat you, also your department. I feel Rolls Royce have supported me to do things that I want to do but needs more guidance for the end role.

When applying for Rolls Royce Motor Cars, it is important to be yourself. They are looking for someone with passion and motivation not necessarily an interest for cars. Provide examples relevant to the job you are applying for to show you have passion and motivation. Finally, be keen and get involved in anything you can.