Year 3 Technical Apprentice Review

My daily work can change depending on which department i am in. During my apprenticeship, I rotate into different departments around the site completing work and getting an overview of what they do. At the moment I am in the design team working on CAD and looking at various drawings.

Yes, when I first started I knew nothing about programming.I was able to get well underway in creating a file management system that had to complete a significant amount of data manipulation before being able to be inputted into the database. I have had previous experience using AutoCAD before but I am being able to use my previous training to complete designs in this industry. I had never used Autodesk Revit before. Although there was a lot of trial and error I was able to create a model that did eventually look similar to the dock. More work was required to ensure that accuracy was correct. My CAD skills have also improved as i only used a small package at my previous college before.

I really enjoy being in the work environment and learning new things that I can actually identify being of use to a company. Whereas with college I am sometimes confused by the curriculum this is because I can't identify the link between the curriculum and the work place.

Despite being a 3rd year apprentice I have the opportunity to partake and chair meetings and undertake work which will aid the developement of the buisness so I do feel very valued by the BAE Systems. I feel as though they look after apprentices within the company very well

The programme is well structured, with enough flexibility built into the system to be useful however not enough so that it can be exploited. Apart from a manager change midway through our programme the management team has remained very similar and stable in comparison to when it started.

I receive a fair amount of support from my training provider. I only see my college tutors once a week on day release however we can always email them with any queries about assignments we have and ask for more help. Every so often we have a 1-on-1 chat with our main tutor as well.

Everytime i have needed some support from BAE they have provided it, usually it was just a couple of hours of time to finish some assignments in work however some of the time it was a bit more major then that. I feel really comfortable speaking to my supervisors and managers as well if i have any problems

I am very happy to recieve the opportunity to work within BAE Systems and receive the chance to get to study for my HNC and HND. I believe the salary does reflect our work input to the company which I am very appreciative for. I hope to save up for a house in the upcoming years too.

In terms of STEM activities there is a lot to do. Some apprentices really enjoy doing them and other are more willing to take a step back. I personally really enjoy helping out with task that are both related and non-related to engineering.

Yes

I think it is a really good company to work for and their apprentice scheme is very oganised and structured. They have had thousands of apprentices in the past so they have developed a route into their company which benefits everyone and is a good route when starting a career path.

I would say to just go for it and apply straight away. The application process is quite intense however the board who will decide on your application have many years of experience behind them and they will be able to pick out people who have potential even if it is not immediatly obvious. There is no harm in applying for a role, even if you dont happen to get it.