Thermal Apprentice Review

As I am in first year, my days consist of going to HETA training college. This means doing practical's on electrical, mechanical, PLCs, instrumentation and advanced electrical. There is normally a 50/50 mix of classroom work and workshop practical work. This provides a good mix. You also get other opportunities for things like careers events and etc.

I have learnt pretty much all completely new skills practically as well as socially. I have learnt how to wire things up electrically but also how to do mechanical work, and more computer based work. I also have become more confident as I am more willing to try new things now.

I enjoy my program a lot because it has allowed me to gain a whole new world of knowledge and challenges me frequently. I have also had some great opportunities as part of my program such as being invited to events. It has been a really great experience to build many new skills.

My programme is very well organised as a set amount of weeks is given for each aspect of the programme such as six weeks for instrumentation or 4 weeks for PLCs. This means you can itemise your learning and it makes it easier knowing what to expect and helps with what to revise too.

I receive a lot of support from my employer as I have been given PPE, been invited to black tie events and careers events, been invited to site many times, been given a laptop for my college work as well as having eLearning to help me with security and etiquette on site.

We have contact with all instructors on teams which allows us to receive support at all times. We are also encouraged to ask questions and have mental health support staff around at all times so I feel very well supported. There is also a lot of good equipment to further my knowledge for engineering.

I feel my programme had helped me to perform a lot better in my job role as it has taught me everything engineering related I know such as how to maintain and inspect machinery. As well as how to wire things electrically, and how to repair kit. Also how to be safe on site.

At my work place, there are many extra curriculars to get involved in. For example, I have done a careers day event where I told people at a university all about my apprenticeship and company. I have also been invited to a black tie CATCH awards dinner where I will get to network with leading people in the Humber, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire engineering area.

Yes

I think they are very employee minded giving their employees great opportunities as well as great schemes such as cycle to work and the pension scheme which shows their investments they make into employees. They are also very serious when it comes to health and safety which makes me feel like it is a safe place to work.

My advice to those applying for SSE is to make sure to be a punctual person who shows a willingness for learning and trying new things as that is what engineering is all about. Also make sure you are a team player as lots of the industry requires employees to work together.