Engineering Apprentice Review

Everyday is different, but you always arrive at the section you are on, discuss any planned work for the day and get on with what's planned, as well as reacting to any faults that may occur throughout the day. There's a huge variety of faults that occur throughout the different sections that we go on, which means that every day is different and you're always getting hands on and learning new information and skills.

I've learnt and developed many skills throughout my time in the apprenticeship. I've developed my hand skills by being able to get involved with working on the different systems and equipment that we have at the airport and have learnt about the systems and equipment whilst working on them. I have also developed my communication skills, both face to face and over things like email, as well as developing my organisation and time management skills by learning how to balance work and college, ensuring that all work is completed on time and to the best standard it can be.

I thoroughly enjoy my program. I am a hands on learner, so this apprenticeship caters to the way I learn by teaching me on the job whilst working on all the systems and equipment that we look after at the airport. It allows me to develop and learn new skills, as well as preparing me for work in the future.

My apprenticeship is a four year programme that is structured very well. The first year is spent full time at college gaining your qualifications, spending the half terms and holidays at work, and the second year is spent working Monday - Friday at the airport with one day a week at college and the third and fourth years are spent doing shift work whilst doing one day a week at college. This structure works well to allow you to gain a basic knowledge of the sections and gain a basic skill set on days before going on shift, and the one day a week at college allows you to gain your qualifications whilst still allowing you to get the hands on experience at work.

I receive lots of support from my employer. If there are any questions or problems regarding college, my employer looks to resolve them as quickly as they can, as well as the same with anything in the workplace. They also support your development as an apprentice and do regular 1 to 1's and check ins to see how you're getting on.

There have been a few issues with the college, however, anyone that we have raised any issues to has done all that they can to sort any problems we have had, and have been offered support from other teachers to help cover any lessons or provide us with any information we need. So, although there have been issues, there have always ways around it and people to support us.

The qualifications that I gain (Level 2 BTEC, Level 3 BTEC, HNC) all help me perform better in my role as an apprentice as they teach me the basics of different things (such as electrical principles, mechanical principles, machining, etc) which then allows me to understand the systems and equipment that I am working on more and allows for technicians to explain it to me in more detail, due to the fact that I already know the basics, so I can build upon that knowledge. The level 2 BTEC also allowed me to develop hand skills before coming to work on site, which allowed to to perform better in my role too.

Every year, we go on something called Outward Bounds, which is where all apprentices go on a team building trip, where we get to do different activities such as gorge walking, canoeing, rock climbing, etc, and it allows for us to get to know each other better and to develop new skills and build upon previously existing ones. There are also work socials that happen, which are open to all apprentices and technicians.

Yes

The apprenticeship is such a brilliant scheme that sets you up for life. The apprenticeship allows you to gain industry recognised qualifications that give you a good understanding of different types of engineering, and you also gain on the job experience from the apprenticeship, which allows you to learn the ins and outs of different equipment and systems and allows you to develop may skills and sets you up for a job in the future. You are also well supported and looked after here at the airport and the variety of sections that you go to allows you to learn a massive amount about different types of engineering systems and equipment.

The biggest thing that they look for is your passion for engineering. Show your passion for engineering, and that you really want it. You don't have to have experience, or know anything, they're going to train you and teach you from the ground up anyways, and you don't have to have done any big engineering projects before or anything, as long as you show you want it, your passion and that you are willing to learn and work hard and be proactive, you'll be good.