Apprentice Boatbuilder Review

My role involves numerous tasks. These include making composite components such as consoles, hatches and battery boxes to name a few, to making composite boats from detailed drawings. The making of these composites involve a number of different processes which are as follows, hand lay up, vacuum bagging and vacuum infusion.

I have previous experience of hand lay up techniques from working in a composite business during the summer when I was at secondary school, so I have some experience of working with composites. I have however built on these skills and I am now tasked with a large variety of different jobs.

I really enjoy my job when I am based in the workshop, learning new skills and quicker processes which enable me to continually develop and become an increasing asset to the team. Unfortunately the college side of my apprenticeship has been very disappointing and has substantially let down my apprenticeship, this is a real shame because the actual job and work is very enjoyable.

I feel that my programme is very poorly constructed and organised. I find that I often have to do all of the chasing and pushing when it comes down to my academic/college side of my apprenticeship. This could have easily been avoidable but unfortunately some higher management do not want to help or just provide false promises when it comes to sorting issues out. I have been moved college during my apprenticeship and have gone a whole year without college which was completely out of my hands and was totally avoidable. This means that I have a lot of work to catch up on and now my apprenticeship is likely to be extended for another year.

In the workplace where I work I feel supported to a certain extent but overall I feel very much alone and again having to push for any issues that I have to be supported. Unfortunately I feel like my job role is not supported by the apprenticeship programme and there needs to be major improvement if they want to keep hiring apprentices in this field.

My previous college was organised and provided me with complete support when working towards my qualifications. It was made clear what aims and targets we needed to meet and the work that needed to be completed so it enabled me to complete these targets and pass my exams. Unfortunately, my new training provider has been utterly appalling and I have received no support at all from the college. Somehow it seems impossible for my employer and the college to communicate so I often find myself in the middle as a result, guessing and pushing for answers. This is the last thing that you need as an apprentice.

I feel that the qualification has barely benefitted me during my role. I do have a wider knowledge of hazards, Coshh, Puwer and Loler for example but apart from these, I feel like I have not benefited from my training provider at all.

There is potential to be moved around to different parts of the business but unfortunately this is not really an option for my job role which I find to be a missed opportunity by higher management. At the start of the apprenticeship within the first six months there is a team-building week in the Lake District which is beneficial for some and a good way to meet different people in your cohort.

Yes

I would recommend BAE Systems to a friend because of the extra benefits that you receive such as the rewarding share scheme, decent pension and good pay compared to industry standard. But this all depends on what role you apply for, for example some roles are more rewarding than others and different people are suited to different roles and will enjoy them more than I might.

I would advise that you take opportunities if they are presented to you and to apply for roles that you have a major interest in. Prepare to accept that because the company is so large, the chain of command is also very large and as a result it can become frustrating and tiresome.