Higher Engineering Apprentice Review

I work as an higher engineering apprentice at Rolls-Royce. So far and for the first year the training we undertake is mainly practical, this involves learning new skills such as Turning, Milling, Welding aswell as more management and operational activities such as 'Business improvement techniques'. In the first year we have little responsibility and whilst in the LDC feels very similar to being at school.

I have learnt lots of new practical skills used for manufacture which I previously had never had a chance to do. Despite it being good to know and understand these techniques, we will never again really need these skills as I am to go into a design engineering role, where many of these methods have been surpassed. As far as academic learning goes, in this first year I have learnt very little as, despite requiring certain grades to enter the apprenticeship we have been put on a foundation degree at university. Hopefully next year, we will study better topics and to a higher level to increase our engineering knowledge.

I enjoy work as I like learning the new practical techniques and I get on very well with my colleagues however I am looking forward to getting out into the business in August to begin on some good projects and placements and to start the second year of university.

We get fairly good contact from managers and always kept up to date with what is going on with the LDC and in the company. As well as this we are often given the opportunity to lead tours or help out in exhibitions...etc. If I have ever a problem my manager is a good point of contact and is always helpful. Finally, I realise the amount of time and money that ha been put into my apprenticeship to allow me to succeed, this makes me feel valued.

The programme varies in organisational quality. For periods we will be on one section for the necessary period to complete the tasks and then can move on to the next section. However, other times the sections are split into different blocks and sometimes we will not no what we should be going onto, to the extent where at times I have had 4 sections on going at one time. This breaks up the working pattern and can make it tricky to keep up the speed where you are in everything.

Rolls-Royce is my training provider and they give good support where I have ever needed it, always wanting to help where possible. We also attend Derby university where our tutor helps us where she can however from our other lecturers we have received very limited and very poor support and teaching. This support is so bad to the extent where in one of our assignments we were given a 3 week extension due to a large number of problems to which they would not listen to us when we brought them up, this then left us just over a week and a half to complete a second group assignment.

We receive good support from Rolls-Royce who in general are available when we have a problem. IT services and HR also provide good support.

Personally, living at home I feel we get good pay as I of course do not have to spend vast amounts of my wage on rent. As apprentices at this moment we all also know the boundaries we must achieve in order to reach the next pay rise, so I feel that it is also well set out.

Yes, we are often given the opportunity to lead and take part in events put on by Rolls-Royce. They also offer a good social platform where you can do activities with others.

Yes

Despite the issues with university learning, Rolls-Royce is a good company to work for and I believe that, as an apprentice we have a great opportunity to succeed within the company.

From experience I know that Rolls-Royce do not provide much information on the apprenticeship programme, so just make sure you know exactly what the course offers you and do not be afraid to ask.