Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

As an Engineering Degree apprentice at the moment, I spend the majority of my time at Trident College in Leamington. Currently I am making my way through all of the mandatory units required for completing the Foundation Degree, which I am enjoying. My progress is checked on by interval meetings with my work based learning manager, in which we discuss how I am getting on with the course, as well as potential areas for improvement. The sense of responsibility I feel for my own safety is also good, as it makes you more aware of the possible dangers in high risk scenarios.

Even though I'm still in the early days of the apprenticeship, I am very pleased at the rate at which I am developing new skills, as well as improving at existing skills. I have already learned a great deal more about the functioning of an engine, as well as all the parts and how they work together. My knowledge of health and safety features has also greatly increased due to the in depth and detailed training that I have received in this area, as well as now understanding how important it is to report anything you suspect is unsafe, or could be improved.

At the moment I thoroughly enjoy the program, as I've managed to build a good structure of colleagues around myself, as well as making a lot of new friends in my classes etc. The company culture is friendly, but also it is obvious how everyone in the company must work together to strive together towards success. Even as an apprentice I feel valued by those higher up that me, which is a great feeling. I have to say that so far the apprenticeship has exceeded my expectations by far.

So far everyone above me, be it my Work Based Learning Manager or my Line Manager in plant has gone above and beyond to make me feel that I am valued by the company. During talks in the college and at the induction, we were told as a group how invaluable we were to the company, and it was emphasised to us how we were the future of JLR. Tutors go out of their way to make sure everyone is okay, as well as letting you know when you've done a good job, which makes you feel valued also.

At college we have a block system for our lessons, and I have a Google Calendar which tells me exactly what lessons I will have, what time they will be, and which subjects we have for each block. Because of this, you are never unsure of what you will be doing next, which is useful for planning ahead for your HE lessons. Regular meetings and talks keep us updated with what's going on in our apprenticeship, which gives the apprenticeship a very organised feel (you never feel 'out of the loop').

The amount of support we receive is much larger than I expected, due to the sheer amount of apprentices. It was emphasised to me when I started that I would always have a point of contact to talk to, regardless of if I am at college or in plant, if I have any problems or concerns. The training provider (the college) provides a lot of support to us, and they never act as if you are a burden to them if you ask for help, which is a great feeling.

JLR provides a lot of support to its' apprentices as well, as they have many resources online (such as being able to contact support) as well as their ethernet. Support is very easily accessible, meaning you never feel as if you are on your own. The HR team will also reply quickly via email from my experience, if you have any questions of concerns for them, which is always a good thing.

The pay easily meets my living costs, as I live relatively near the college already so it does not cost me a huge amount to travel to and from every day. The area is relatively wealthy, but there are many student accommodations available to apprentices if they need it. I have already managed to save a decent amount of money, whilst still spending enough to go out and enjoy myself etc.

The local area has a large amount of activities to do to suit all types of people, whether you're sporty or not. There's tennis clubs, football leagues, rugby clubs, and other activities such as cinemas and bowling alleys. If you want, there is also many charities that you could volunteer at if that's the kind of thing you like. JLR also arranges certain events that you could research into and attend.

Yes

I think that it is a great opportunity for anyone looking at post college/sixth form opportunities, and in my opinion it is an amazing alternative to going to uni, as you still have the opportunity to go to university later on in your apprenticeship. The salary and benefits are a huge plus also, as you feel that the hard work and effort you put into the job is well worth the effort that you are putting in.

Apply early to give yourself plenty of time to think through your application and refine your answers, make sure to stay calm during the online tests and assessment centre days, as you will perform better this way, and make sure to get lots of sleep before any assessments that you will have, as it will help you to concentrate and perform your best. Research as much as you can about the business before you apply, as this will help you a great amount during the long run. Most of all, keep an open mind to any experiences you will have during the application process.