Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship Review

I am in the sewing department in production. I have learnt 3 jobsticks, which I have been signed off from. At the moment I am in placement with Planning within leather shop. I have been working on creating SABs and TVGs for production and making sure the current ones are correct. I have also been creating new ones for the upcoming model.

I have learnt lots of new skills. I have learnt how to use systems I have never used before and have also learnt different types of sewing skills. I have been able to develop my current knowledge of sewing and expand my skill set with working with different types of fabrics. I have also been able to develop my computer skills on systems I already know.

I have enjoyed working in plant however the course has not been great. We started the course in January 2023 and this course is a 15 month programme. We were then told in November that out course was finishing at the beginning of December, which didn't give us much time to prepare for our EPA (we hadn't started out portfolio which has to be handed in to hit gateway). We were then given a 2 week extension after speaking to our apprentice adviser at work. We then had to wait 4 months before hearing anything about our EPA. Once everything was booked we tried to organise going into college to practice for our practical (which was a 3hr sewing project). We had stopped college in December 2023 so had not had loads of practice. Our teacher had left the college so there was no one in the room for us to practice. The fabric and pattern were supposed to be cut out by this teacher for the exam and also practice, this had not been done so I had to do this for all 4 of us for our exam. On the day the exam was on, the assessor was late on the first day and on the last day rushed us to finish.

I would say it is not very organised. Normally we find out information very last minute which is hard because we cannot plan ahead with home departments/placements. College have not planned our course very well which meant finding out deadlines a week before they're due. This has meant work is rushed and not completed to the highest standard. I felt this has put us at a disadvantage for getting the high grades we all want.

Since my apprentice advisor I have had replies from messages and support with topics like MOVE and my EPA. I think there were too many apprentices for just Katy to deal with and that is why we weren't getting as much support as needed. Darren has really helped with dealing with the MOVE programme for me and has organised pretty much everything for our EPA as college were not very helpful.

I do not think we have received the correct support from college. There communication was terrible and they did not help us with finishing our course. I do not think they gave us a chance or supported us to achieve the high grades that we all wanted. They have also cancelled this course for the other years meaning we were 'swept under the rug' and ignored when we raised concerns.

I think that the course has allowed me to experience working with new materials that I have never worked with before. The course is more aimed at dressmaking rather than a production line working with making cars. We only use leather at work but have worked with multiple materials at college. I think I have been able to relate somethings I have learnt in college to work.

There are events that have been made for future talent, which is out of work hours and normally raising money for charity. It is nice to see all the apprentices/interns and being able to meet people that you might not see at work. It is nice to network with others.

Yes

It is an incredible opportunity to be able to get a qualification whilst getting paid for it. I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone. I like how you can learn something that isn't normally found as an apprenticeship, like sewing and working with cars. This has been an amazing opportunity to be able to experience both education and working.

Understand that you have to balance working with college/uni work as well. It is harder than doing just one.