Commercial Degree apprentice Review

Within Commercial, we look at contracting. So currently. I am on a placement within the Airframer team, which is about managing the long-term contract that we have with them. This means things such as negotiating amendments, solving disputes, and making claims etc. Currently, my objectives within this placement are to negotiate and agree a revised PIA (Proprietary information agreement), Claim against Nacelle damages, create a donation agreement for a donation we made to a university, create an induction pack, and collate evidence about costs we incurred from a certain debris issue.

I have learnt a large amount of communication skills. I started the role at 18, where i had obviously been in school my whole life, and so mixing with adults and working together has been a new but valuable experience. I have also developed skills in contract management and financial skills.

I am really enjoying my programme so far. I am thoroughly enjoying being in the world of work, and experiencing things such as speaking and meeting with customers. I feel as though the projects i am being give to do are genuinely beneficial to the team. The only thing that i think could be improved is if i had more work to do. There are times when i feel as though my capacity is running low, and so I can take on mroe work. I do raise this with my line manager, and so he does find me as much work as he can, however it is understandable that there isn't always work that i can be given to do.

I believe that the programme is fairly well structured. We have monthly flight decks where the apprentices and out ADL get together to talk about the programme, which I do believe is beneficial, and i appreciate that we are told in advance where our next placements are. The things that i believe could be improved would be our apprenticeship board. When we first started, we were introduced to people on our apprenticeship board, who are also in the Commercial function with us. They have frequent meetings with our line managers and our mentors about how we are doing, but have never actually asked us personally, and so i feel that this should be improved by possibly having monthly/bi-monthly meetings to check in with us.

Rolls-Royce are really supportive. There are loads of opportunities that i believe we get. Through the exposure we get to senior leaders, which i find really interesting. We also have workplace mentors, and buddys that we can speak to , which i find extremely beneficial and i really enjoy having another point of contact for this.

Our training providers are also really good. We have a session with our academic mentor every three months. The lecturers also run sessions regularly to answer any questions that we have on coursework, and they are also really approachable and prompt with email responses.

I really enjoy that the academic knowledge that we are gaining is constantly linked back to our individual companies, helping to put context behind it.

I am currently organising a networking event for apprentices. I would like to get involved with other extra-curricular activities at work though.

Yes

I am really enjoying my time here. I am so glad that i did not go to university as i feel that as an apprentice, i am gaining so much work experience and even just how to act in the real world. The opportunities are endless, with regards to things such as travelling and really feeling like an asset at work. I feel so proud that i have a degree apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce.

Just to be yourself. You can't hide your personality etc., and the company want diversity, they want different kinds of people who are all going to specialise in different things.