Systems Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

Working with senior engineers to learn what they are doing and see the skills they are demonstrating, so that I can use this knowledge to go and work on my own tasks that I have been set. I have 6 month long placements where I rotate through different teams and people.

I have learnt many new skills to do with software and systems. I have developed my scripting ability from almost 0 to now being able to understand scripts and start making some of my own scripts. It has also improved my social skills and helped me with talking to new people.

I do enjoy the programme, there are quite a broad range of topics covered and there are always new things to learn . The people here are really nice and always happy to help out if I get stuck. The other apprentices are also really lovely and great people to be around.

My programme is well structured. We have regular monthly check ins with our early careers manager. We then have 6 monthly long placements in teams and then we rotate around. We also have the possibility to go into teams that we think we would enjoy and want to do. I attend college once a week where we do our studying.

I receive a lot of support from BAE Systems. There is the EAP which covers a range of employee benefits that runs 24/7 should a problem arise. I also have many people that I can talk to in person if I need the help as well. We have monthly check-ins where we have a conversation too to discuss how things are going and cover any questions I may have.

We have had some trouble from our provider, however they are working hard with our company in order to solve these. The main issue has been around the struggle for teachers. However, we have been given bonus support sessions in order to get us back onto target for where we should be for some of the subjects that we are learning in college.

I find there is not a huge crossover between my qualification and what I do day to day. This is partly due to the specific work that I carry out at my company. There are some techniques that cross over, studying subjects such as Maths always comes in use. However, due to the broad range of activities at my company, I am sure I will come into a team where I can put my college work to use.

There are many extra activities to do. I think the apprentice social group is tightly bonded and we all get on well. We have lunch together in the same place and same time. On Wednesdays, there is badminton to get involved with and football on Tuesdays. There is maybe 1-2 social nights a month as well where we do different activities, and once in a while there is a big social also with activities such as paint-balling, go karting.

Yes

BAE Systems is a huge company with so many different options to chose from. There is something for everyone to get involved in with really lovely people. The products that they make is incredible and with so many opportunities available there is something for everyone to chose from and feel they can work on.

I think a willingness to learn is one of the major aspects for an apprentice at BAE Systems, if you are willing to try and learn new things, then this is really great. I think another bit of advice would be about talking to new people and having great teamwork.