Mechanical Fitter Review

First year is completely college based: one day we spend all day in lessons learning the city and guilds qualification the rest of the days we are doing practical work for our NVQ. The practical work involves 3 different rotations within the college, looking at hand skills, machining and diesel engines

The upside with the first year being in college is that even if you know absolutely nothing, by the time you actually go into the dockyard you find that through the qualifications and practical work you feel considerably more prepared, i would almost certainly say i have learnt new skills so far

My programme is a good, solid programme. We have had problems with the training provider but that is to no fault of our employers, I think it's a very full on programme and there's a lot to keep you busy throughout the first year especially, it is difficult, but also incredibly enjoyable

Once again, this is where the issues we have had with the training provider comes back in, although the structure is really good and allows us to get the most out of the time in college, I have found that the severe delay in getting our E-portfolio sorted really stressed a lot of people out, and we're all still behind now

My employer is brilliant, I have had a few medical issues this year resulting in hospital admittance, and needing external support from the NHS and they could not have been better, nothing makes me feel like i'm hassling or annoying them, i feel comfortable to be able to speak to them about any issues

The training provider is okay. We do receive support but it's very much generalised and there is a lack of specific feedback unless it's on an exam sheet, or it's been told to you while a lecturer reads your work. It would be nice to be able to have extra tuition if needed without having to fight for it

I think it's useful coming into the dockyard with that year of college behind us, as it even educate us socially, it's strange to only know the same 4/5 people in our classes; but it is similar with work groups in the dockyard. I feel as if i would be more confident now that i would if i went in straight from the off

There are plenty of networks ranging from women in engineering, to LGBTQIA2S+ to neurodiversity networks. Furthermore, There is also a strong social network in the sense that babcock run a programme in conjunction with 'generation healthy minds' which focuses on protecting and improving our mental health. this programme culminates in a weeks programme all themed around teamwork on a residential

Yes

If they wanted to work in the engineering sector I would recommend them, however it should be noted that although I would give them all the good reasons: 1) the support 2) the extra curriculars I would also feel the need to tell them about the issues we have faced due to the training provider in the first year

Be completely honest in the interview, if you don't know something tell them rather than making an outrageous guess, as generally they will help you. Don't cheat on the online tests. Just don't do it. It becomes so obvious when those questions come to be learnt in lessons and you have no idea