Manufacturing Apprentice Review

Every day is different, from problem solving in a reactive way to proactive planning how to improve the factory and become more autonomous.

I’ve learnt many skills from communicating and working with different people to physical skill sets being improved whether it be the use of hand tools or a methodical way of approaching tasks or planning for the future.

I enjoy my apprenticeship a lot, especially the area I work in. All the people are amazing and we have a good connection. Each day is different and I like the variety of things the day can throw at you. You don’t know what’s around the corner.

I think the apprenticeship is structured well. There are loads of opportunities to meet others also doing the same course and this allows to build friendships within the business and build contacts from across the country.

There is always someone at hand to support me or answer any questions I have. Once gaining some experience, you can work out who are the most appropriate people to ask are depending on what you want to know.

Again through Onefile, there is always a fast response to any questions or queries. I’m not at the end of my apprenticeship yet, but it sounds as though they have a clear plan in place to prepare us for our end point assessment with mock days etc.

The learnings from Lincoln university can give you an understanding as to why certain processes are followed or why certain checks are done. The legal and audit side of the course are particularly emphasised.

There are volunteering opportunities with activities such as keeping the site looking aesthetically nice. Specifically at Buxton, we have a nature walk path and pond which is kept.

Yes

The apprenticeship gives you a good foundation for the future and gives you a chance to sell yourself to the business to gain a good reputation. It’s very rewarding and supportive of the path you want to go down.

Be yourself, not having previous experience in the industry can be quite daunting at first and a lot of things do not make sense, but trust the process and don’t panic. Listen to any advise or what people have to say as they will have useful tips and great knowledge.