Apprentice Designer Review

My role involves using CAD and CAM to help design and develop submarines, this can involve both 2D and 3D cad. We are exposed to multiple placements once we have finished our first year, this allows use to see the different working methods and allows for a border experience overall.

I have built my skills using CAD and IT systems and must communicate effectively within my department.

I enjoy my programme and am glad that that I have applied. There are many frustrations that come with working for such a large and bureaucratic company however the work that is available is very enjoyable and if you are deemed capable they will make you an integral part of problem solving and difficult projects while giving you the necessary assistance.

I would say this is the worst part of the programme, too many people want to interfere with apprentices and what they are learning. The organisation withing the first year at Furness college is terrible and my manager (who was the single POC for 300 apprentices) did not seem to care about any of the issue that I had however she has since left the business. Communication between Furness college and BAE did not appear to work and the tutors, some of who were brilliant, were let down my miss management. The transition between college and onsite has an excellent programme run by the small team that organises placements. It includes site tours and product knowledge talks that without we would have been slow to start on placement. They are very easy to approach and will let you have input to the placements that you have. Placements are brilliant and most teams are happy to help apprentices and give them challenging work suited to their ability when available. Early careers are not particularity organised out of an intake of around 35 we have three skills coaches who are very helpful however they don't seem to coordinate between them to get the best use of the materials and aids they have to use.

Extra support is available if you ask for it from early careers, support on placement is brilliant. Support at Furness college was highly dependant on the tutor that you had some were brilliant, some were terrible.

Furness College's support was dependant on the tutor that you had, some would not make extra time to help you some would and this shows when looking at results that are vary significantly between tutors.

Furness college provided very little useful knowledge for my role. The only useful classes were CAD and mechanical principles.

There are some that you can get involved with.

Yes

The role is very good once you have mad it through the first year, they knowledge base that is in barrow is vast and you can if you are willing to learn of the senior designers that worked on astute and surface ships you will do well.

The interview process is not the best however just be honest and think about how you would develop ideas and designs. Think about innovation, technology, and the 'BAE behaviours' (creativity, strategic vision, adaptability, collaboration, develops people, integrity, courage, and inspiration). Do of extra curricular activities such as sports, Cadet forces, volunteering, ect.