Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

The first year I spend half my time at the Rolls-Royce Learning and Development Centre and the other half at university of Derby. When I am at Rolls-Royce I undergo units provided by Derby College such as Milling, Turning, Welding and electrical work. There are also a few courses that are provided by Rolls-Royce staff themselves such as Business Improvement Training. For the other 3 years of my apprenticeship I will do a number of different jobs that we call placements and attend university once a week.

The university side of things is mostly building on your college knowledge and content you would expect from a degree. while the Rolls-Royce Side of things is acquiring knowledge from such a wide range of subjects that know one could already know how to do everything. For example you may know how to use most the machines in the workshop but you don't know anything about electrical work or CAD.

I'm really enjoying the programme so far and I look forward to most new weeks as I'm often doing something different each week. Going to university full time never appealed to me and I have found that this first year I do the same amount of university work as a full time student but in half the time therefore their is a large work load.

Due to the intake of apprentices being in the hundreds there is sometimes issues with double booking rooms and timetable problems but this is to be expected from a large company. The programme is well organised in a way that its clear what you must be doing to pass each unit, module and your first year.

All staff are very friendly and nice. You are assigned to a Apprentice Development Leader who is your first point of contact if you need anything. You have weekly meeting with this person as a class to raise any issues you are having. It is very easy to just get on with your work and not practically talk to these support people.

When doing the Degree you are treated like any other student therefore university lecture's can be not very supportive in your day to day uni life. Although you have people at the uni who are assigned to you because you are an apprentice who you can go to for any magor issues.

The two this year are very separate for me with it being physical and theory but i think others with a better theory understand can make links. I think my Degree training may help me perform better when I go on placements or into a full time job roles later.

They are not directly presented to you as a apprentice but through asking I have a list of sports on offer and I attend football. I think when you go into the businees things like this are more organised and talked. you can also get involved with anything at uni but due to our none stop timetable it is hard to attend these.

Yes

If a friend was really interested in a apprenticeship that was on offer I would recommend it. It was the right thing for me but it is not the right thing for everyone. I like how Rolls-Royce is a large world wide company as there are so many oppurtunites and somthing interesting is always going on.

Apply for the one you are most passionate about and try to gain any work experience or do something that is relevant to talk about. for example whilst at college I worked a part time job and did work experience at my local airport doing aircraft maintaince. Therefore you have things to talk about that you and the interviewer are interested in.