Apprentice Designer Review

My role includes using a computer based design programme to produce output drawings to then be used on the shop floor for manufacture. Alongside this, I also model components, do basic calculations and also sometimes get to have hands on experience by going and seeing the product being made.

I have learnt and developed many new skills, not only tehcnically but also I have learnt a lot of social skills and how the office environment works. I have learnt an awful lot about engineering as well as the manufacturing process, and just how much work goes into producing products.

I enjoy my programme very much from the work side of things, however I do not enjoy college due to the teaching methods. I love coming into work and getting on with jobs, as it gives me a good indication of what work I'll be doing when I time complete.

I feel very valued, there are regular meetings to discuss progress and there is also the apprentice of the month scheme which shows that our good work can be recognised. All of the teams in the office are very friendly and so I feel that the work I do on my placements is very valued.

I feel like the programme is well organised, however it does get a bit awkward when we are moving placements as we can never really get settled in somewhere properly, and we don't know where we are moving to until possibly a week before we go. Overall though, I feel like things are structured well.

The support I recieve from my training provider is sufficient, I feel like they teach us well enough to pass the assingments. However most of the support is provided by the workplace if needed.

There is lots of opportunities within the company to recieve support, such as the graduate programme to help the apprentices with our college work if needed. I feel like there is a lot more support available in work than at the college.

The salary that we recieve very much meets my needs, and I feel priveleged to only be 18 and getting as much money as I am, as a lot of other companies don't have this high of an apprentice wage. The pay rises are regular and so it is definitely something that the apprentices can work towards throughout the year.

There are many opportunities outside of work, I have taken part in the STEM programme as well as organising a raffle for a local charity event, and so I feel like if you go looking for opportunities there are a lot there.

Yes

I know a lot of people who have apprenticeships in other local businesses and based on everyone's experiences I would say that this is the best local company here for apprenticeships, there is a lot of opportunity to progress and it's just a generally nice company to work in.

I would tell people that when they are applying to stress how much they want to take on opportunities, and I would definitely asvise my friends to apply for an apprenticeship here.