Supply Engineer Review

I work in the Purchasing department dealing with supplier quality issues which occur on a daily basis, finding out what has gone wrong and following a process to resolve them. My interactions include working with supplier, manufacturing and engineering teams. I help cover an entire vehicle line so the work is varied.

Yes I have developed a lot of skills whilst working here. I have been able to attend a number of internal training courses which have helped me develop skills such as project management, time management, communication skills, working in teams and conflict resolution. My role involves dealing with lots of people so I have really developed my ability to interact with other people on all sorts of levels.

I really enjoy the apprenticeship as I am getting paid at the same time as getting a degree and working in a real-life manufacturing environment. The people I work with are really supportive and the company has a culture of continuous improvement so there has been plenty of opportunity to improve myself where I see fit. It's definitely better than spending a fortune to attend university as I am getting relevant experience at the same time.

My manager is really supportive and helpful, encouraging me to take on responsibility. I don't get treated any differently by anyone else even though we are all doing the same job. I have presented to people at senior level within the organisation and feel valued for the contribution I add to the company.

The programme is structured over six years, and by the end of it I will have a degree in engineering. There has been continuous support throughout, during the first two years of college where I completed my foundation degree and a number of NVQ's. I have a company-based training manager with whom I have regular reviews to discuss how I feel things have been going.

There is no shortage of accessibility or support. I have a training manager with whom I have regular reviews, but they are also available at any time if I feel I need guidance with general problems. Within the workplace, I have a lot of support from my manager. The general attitude is a positive one and I feel I always have someone to turn to if I need to.

I have a lot of support from my manager and have a weekly one to one meeting to discuss any concerns I might have, and also go over how I have been progressing. The company is really big so there is also support from various other departments, such as HR. I have never felt as though I have never had anyone to turn to, which is really important to me.

My salary more than covers living costs. Plus I receive a salary increase every six months, a holiday bonus halfway through the year and a pay rise to cover the effects of inflation. Over the course of the apprenticeship, my salary will double which is great news for me! I am also enrolled in a really good pension scheme which is important for when I get older.

Yes there are plenty of opportunities outside work. Each employee gets an allowance to enrol on a course to learn something new every year. Plus the company is involved in the local community and there are various activities that take place between the different company sites.

Yes

Really good benefits, a supportive environment and a brilliant alternative to university. You still achieve the same but gain a lot of experience and are paid for it too. It's an exciting time to work for the company as well with new models being released all the time.

It shouldn't be seen as a daunting process. As long as you have a genuine interest in engineering, being technical and cars then it's not nerve wracking as they understand you have just finished your A-levels and don't expect you to have loads of experience. Do research into the company before you apply and it helps to brush up on maths before doing some of the entrance tests.