Degree Apprentice Manufacturing Engineer Review

I will experience a range of placements within manufacturing engineering. My first placement has enabled me to contribute as part of the team through meaningful tasks. I am assigned tasks that work towards the overall goal of creating a product and have lots of support if needed. There may be the need to attend meetings both face to face and virtually but the demand for this changes depending on the placement you are in.

At first the information can be very overwhelming, depending on your knowledge and background before joining the apprenticeship. However, within the first placement, things start to make sense as you interact with the daily workings of the business. As you develop within placements, academic work starts to link with the daily tasks and really helps to underpin overall knowledge. The business meets regularly with apprentices to expand learning and develop key skills.

I have really enjoyed the experience so far. My first placement has been amazing and I really feel a part of the team. I enjoy the tasks I am set and the workplace is incredibly supportive, being very proactive if any issues arise. Having already gained a degree in a different subject, I can appreciate the level of support from tutors in all areas of academic work. The only downside is that there is a lot of academic work that is required outside of work hours, I expected this to be included within the working week. So if you have outside commitments such as a family or caring for someone etc then it can be difficult to manage. Having said that, the apprenticeship team are available to speak to for support as everyone wants you to succeed on the programme.

There are parts that are very well structured and organised but for the most part, it can be a little chaotic. We have a set day to attend college which is helpful for routine. Most of the assignments or exams are planned well in advance, however we have had some changed from an exam to an assignment, which can be difficult if you need to plan your time carefully.

The business is extremely supportive, both for placements but also for academic success too. There is a dedicated team that liaises with placement managers and tutors if needed and any support given is shared across the business and college, with your permission. It can be tricky to contact this team as they obviously have a lot of people to deal with but you have a range of people within the business to contact that can help link in the right people. There are also many schemes the business has for support, such as the Employee Assistance Programme, mental health support etc.

There is a lot of support in place from the training provider. Our specific course has only 10 people so classes are small and teaching is very in depth. There is enough time to answer questions that arise although the pace of learning at times can be quite quick. Tutors are always available to message if you have any questions or need some additional input.

At the moment, the learning and the work role are only just beginning to connect. I think this has a lot to do with the type of placement an apprentice is in and the topic of learning that is being covered. However, there are some definite links I can recognise between the two and as I progress further into the apprenticeship I know that this will become even greater.

There are a lot of different activities that you can become involved with. There is a dedicated apprenticeship group that gather local groups etc and distribute amongst apprentices. There are frequent professional networking events as well as apprentice meet ups. Emails are always shared regarding different sports groups or supporting charity events too.

Yes

Overall the apprenticeship has been positive. The working environment is good, there are lots of things in place to ensure that everyone is efficient but also has a positive experience. The sense of community amongst the apprentices is evident and there are ongoing events within work that bring everyone together. There is a lot of support available for anyone that needs it.

Be prepared for long waits between communication during the application process. I would highly recommend applying if you are wanting a business that is as committed to your career progression as you are. It also does not matter about your career history, people can come from all kinds of previous employment/academic study that seems completely unrelated. The business is more interested in the work ethic and personal skills that you can bring so make sure you show off your best talents.