Engineer Review

I am in a platform mechanical engineering placement working with a team within a larger team to deliver systems to a level of maturity so it may progress to later stages of its maturity and eventually be ready enough to be built then delivered to the royal navy by creating, designing and changing documents and being involved in meetings to discuss design.

I have learnt how to use a multitude of different programmes that will be relevant wherever I take engineering in future roles and placements as well as learnt how things as large as submarines are slowly developed from a basic design to a solid plan to eventually a submarine itself. I have also learnt to work with other people to ensure things go according to that plan.

The programme offers a fair amount of knowledge in terms of placements on site and university work that needs to be completed however the actual assignments at university usually lacks relevancy to anything which could enhance our knowledge and it is not delivered well by anyone at the college I attend.

I believe the university side of things is very well organised and how the placements work is also quite organised where everyone knows where they are going and have some choice in where their next placement might be. The parts in between where a 'journal' and a 'log' of what happens in placements and during off the job hours could be improved by having one simple book which could act as an all-in-one diary as there always seems to be confusion surrounding this.

There is a fair amount of support in terms of getting the time we need to study during the week and plentiful opportunities to do what could be considered as 'extra curricular' activities which have relevance to the company and some relevance to the role where the company also provides training, tours to expand knowledge across the uk etc....

Our training provider (University of Lancaster) uses the Blackpool & Fylde College centre to deliver their course to us. The course content is not delivered in the best way it could be and would be better if the university of Lancaster delivered it themselves either directly through their own site or through trained staff sent down teaching their own course.

Most of what I do in my role at BAE Systems is learnt on the job where I ask people for help and use resources to figure things out on my own however as a first year this may change once the training provider's course gets past the 'basic' information and get on to the more difficult and newer topics to myself.

There are plenty of charitable events where alot of 'extra curricular' activities take place as well as a lot of opportunities to network with people and visit places or attend talks to further expand knowledge within the company. There are also alot of events that can be related to our job roles very loosely.

Yes

Most university courses where you would have to pay for are easily avoidable through apprenticeships where you have an insurmountable amount of opportunities, time where you don't have to study/work to pay rent etc... as it is all included in one package practically whilst also getting any help you need whenever necessary allowing for independancy aswell.

It is a great opportunity and is almost ridiculous not to go for as at university you will be wasting your life likely working a job part-time, studying during free hours, paying a university loan you will have to eventually pay back. Advice would be to show why your enthusiastic about what you are applying for and why an apprenticeship easily puts you ahead of any university student during the interview and show off any experience you have prior to the role.