VPCR Technician Review

Since completing my apprenticeship last July I have been working within the Product Improvement Department as a VPCR Technician, releasing and modifying parts on current product engines. VPCRs can be requested by a wide variety of people (including being raised on behalf of both customers and suppliers) and I regularly work with a lot of departments to ensure that what I am proposing is a viable solution which meets the criteria without causing any issues.

While an apprentice you usually have work from your rotation, an individual project and a group project to work on along with attending college 1 day a week - to get the most out of the apprenticeship you must balance your workload to ensure that you keep your projects moving while still getting the most out of your current department. I now have a workload that typically consists of 5 - 6 projects that I am actively working on and this practice at keeping track of multiple work items and keeping them all moving, especially when they are usually completely seperate from each other, is invaluable. Doing a rotation based apprenticeship means that I have experience of a wide variety of departments and their processes, along with knowledge of the resources each department has. This is very useful in understanding what departments can help with various things and how, along with meaning I have good experience of navigating our many different computer applications and sites to retrieve information.

Most rotations are 3 months long - this typically means that you spend enough time in them to properly get into them and see the interesting bits but you also never have time to get bored. There are a wide variety of departments involved in the rotation programme and while there are obviously many where there are some similarities you always learn something new in each rotation.

The first year of the programme is spent at college, following which you have a rotation plan outlining when you are in each Department - it is then your responsibility to reach out to the department, arrange to work with them and ensure you have the relevant accesses and software set up. Projects can be very random in terms of workload, and many also have busy times and then quieter times while you are waiting for things so it is critical that you communicate with your rotational manager if you need more or less work from them at any time.

I have always felt well supported and able to go to my manager with any questions or concerns, and people are always happy to support projects when asked. Since finishing my apprenticeship I have been supported to learn my new role and am now looking into starting my degree in September.

They have several new members of staff on the team since I regularly attended college.

Not much of what you do at college is necessarily used for your day to day jobs, however many Engineers who have graduated before starting say the same, much of what you get out of qualifications is how you learn / work and other skills you pick up without realising. It is surprising though when you come to make your portfolio or prepare for EPA how many different skills you are actually using for apparently straight-forward jobs.

There is no longer a sports and social club however the onsite gym "The Engine Room" is free to use and inductions are held regularly. Despite being a hybrid team splitting our time between wfh and being onsite there is a strong team spirit - we typically semi-coordinate what days we are planning to be onsite to be together and we have a monthly "cuisine club". We also have team building events - last year we went to an escape room followed by a meal out.

Yes

I've always been very well supported and even as an apprentice only in a department temporarily have been included in things such as team Christmas meals. If you want an apprenticeship which will give you lots of opportunities to progress including being able to continue your education if you want then I would recommend Cummins.

You get out what you put in - nobody cares that you don't know everything already but as long as you are ready to ask questions and try to learn people will always be happy to help you. Double check where you have been told to go when you arrive for an interview - Centenary House and Darlington Engine Plant have separate car parks and receptions!