ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN Review

My role is an Electrical Engineering Maintenance Technician Apprentice. The first two years of my apprenticeship were residential and based at HMS Collingwood/ Sultan in Portsmouth. Here, I attended training provided by Babcock Training. The first year was a general engineering year. After this, I got streamed into Electrical bias. I spent the summer at Hartlepool Power station learning on the job. Then for my second year, I spent this again at Collingwood/ Sultan learning more specific electrical theory and gaining practical experience.

Most of the skills learnt on the apprenticeship have been new to me. I had no previous experience in Electrical Engineering so I have been taught everything from scratch and enjoyed it thoroughly. The uniqueness of the apprenticeship being based away from home also develops independence and responsibility that I would not have gained elsewhere.

I have enjoyed my apprenticeship so far. The training is job specific and I learn the theory before getting hands on. I enjoy living away from home too, although daunting at first. It has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and do things I otherwise would not.

I feel valued by EDF Energy. They have shown this by the financial backing by putting me through this apprenticeship. They have funded trips away to locations such as Berlin, Budapest and Lyon for purposes varying from cultural trips to visiting and experiencing other nuclear power stations. This proves to me that I am valued by EDF.

The apprenticeship is well structured. This has been helped by the fact it has been running for 10 years now and improvements have been made along the way. I learn the relevant topics that I need to be a good technician on my return to the power station in the summer.

I receive support from my training provider. If I need any assistance I am comfortable asking any of the instructors for help or additional help. They also help organise our trips that are funded by EDF and organise the training programme which is logical. They have organised additional qualifications for us such as the ILM Team Leadership qualification.

I receive plenty of support from my employer. We have yearly medicals where we are asked questions about our wellbeing and if any issues are identified they will be happy to organise help and work through the problems with you. They are a very supportive company that look after their employees well.

My salary is good and I can live well within my salary. Each year on the apprenticeship you receive a good pay rise which is nice to have. EDF also aim to meet/beat inflation rates every year which is very good and allows me to keep living comfortably throughout my apprenticeship

Living in Collingwood there are plenty of opportunities outside work. We have a Personal trainer who organises an activity every weekday such as boxing, circuits and spinning. I have free access to a good gym and swimming pool. Also at the power station, I have access to the golf course onsite.

Yes

EDF Energy is a very good company to work for. They value their employees really highly and treat them very well. There are lots and lots of opportunities to improve yourself such as promotions and opportunities for further education. They are a well-structured, high achieving business and ran very efficiently throughout.

You need to know what you are applying for and what the role requires and includes. Research the company, what it does, how it does it, why it does it and the people in charge of it. EDF offer free site tours of their power stations and this will help massively for an interview.