Rating

8.4/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering Apprentice On a normal day to day basis, I spend the majority of my time working in the 'Product Development Area', which is where most of the electronics work goes on at PA Consulting. No two days are the same, with a variety of different projects going on across the company, meaning I often come into work not knowing what exiting project I will be working on next. There is huge variety in the work I undertake at PA, from designing, assembling and testing small circuit boards to wiring up control boxes for large scale machines. My work is also not solely restricted to electronics work either. Throughout my time at PA so far, I have completed comprehensive mechanical training, with the ability to utilise machines such as Milling Machines and Lathes. There is also a huge variety in the people I work with, from electronic and mechanical engineers, to software engineers and applied scientists. Every day is different!

    8/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • When I came into the apprenticeship in August 2017, I had just finished studying A-levels. In this first year, I have studied Level 3 BTEC Engineering at Bedford College, and I have also completed a Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations Unit (PEO). This new knowledge I gained through college is then being applied to my work at PA, developing skills further. Outside of college, I have had training in a number of different areas including electrical and electronic training, mechanical training, health and safety and much more! This was done through a mixture of tutoring from experienced colleagues or through training courses provided. At the time of writing, I am also booked onto more external courses, including PAT Testing and IPC Soldering.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • When at PA, the facilities which I get to work in are second to none. All of the equipment is kept in good condition, and there is a huge variety of machines and tools to use to your advantage. The work itself is also very enjoyable, and is widely varied across different areas of engineering. Some of the work can be more challenging than other pieces, but the people who are around you are always happy to help. This brings me on to the best part of working at PA, the team who surround you. They are always happy to help with any problems or issues you may be having with work and college work. Everyone has their own speciality, and no matter the problem you encounter, there is usually someone who can help with the solution. Everyone is also extremely happy to help, and enjoy sharing their knowledge and experiences with others (even when they're busy, they will make time at some point). The culture of the company is very hard working. Everyone puts in the best effort they can, and he results show in the work they produce. As with many places these days, you may have to work beyond the contracted hours set, but the rewards and results of this keep you motivated to do so. One of the only problems I have come across is that there has been times where you are short of client work to complete, whether this is down to you lacking experience or whether the work is even available in your area.

    9/10

  • 4. How valued do you feel by PA Consulting?
  • At PA, I feel extremely valued as an employee. This is clear from the amount of time spent on ensuring that I am gaining as much out of the apprenticeship as I possibly can. I have many opportunities to develop my career and skills in the way I want to, with the ability to have a say in what training I partake in, courses to go on and so on. This is also evident with the work that people come to me with. It is clear that they value my input as opposed to just being cheap labour on a project.

    9/10

  • 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The apprenticeship scheme as a whole is very well structured and organised. When I first started, in the period before I began studying at college, my week would consist of dedicated training to develop the skills I would go on to use regularly. This included soldering training, electronic assembly and wiring, and training on specialist mechanical equipment and tools to ensure I can complete any task to a good standard. The college structure is also good, and for the first year I spent 3 days at college, followed by 2 day at work completing 'real' work. For any work I was doing, be it college or client work, the support in place to ensure everything was completed well is brilliant. The people around me were able to support and guide me, allowing me to complete everything to the best of my ability. One of the better aspects of the apprenticeship is the ability to take control of my career. I can choose what training I wish to complete, and which areas I am more interested in. I also get very good support from my line manager, and we have monthly 1 to 1 catch ups to ensure that everything is running well and to discuss any concerns I may have.

    10/10

  • 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
  • Bedford college provides an adequate amount of support in the form of lectures. However, the college learning is not hands on, quite the opposite. The lecturers focus on giving out the knowledge, but are reluctant to give too much help after they have handed out an assignment, and even then its very much down to you to find out the information you want (For the level 3 that is). The PEO units are very different, with a much more hands on approach. The lecturers here are much more helpful, and aid wherever they can.

    6/10

  • 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • The support from my employer is brilliant, which is one of the biggest surprises for me. Everyone is friendly and helpful, and provides support when you ask for it. They are also very good at ensuring that you are keeping on top of all work set, and can then offer support based upon this. This is aided with monthly line manager catch ups, so that support can be tailored to your specific needs.

    9/10

  • 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
  • I find that the overall package which PA offers is reasonable. Compared with other apprentices at the same level, the pay is good. PA also offers a number of other benefits such as private health care, pension scheme and an annual bonus scheme.

    7/10

  • 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
  • There is a number of events and opportunities away from the office which I can partake in. PA host some events at different locations, and recently we had a conference style event hosted at Wembley Stadium. Surplus to this, I have attended other events, such as Cambridge Launchpad and the IMechE Home Automation Challenge. Launchpad is an event aimed at promoting STEM activities to primary school children. The day consisted of a number of activities designed to engage and draw interest from the children into the STEM subjects. The Home Automation Challenge was another great event which I have attended. Myself and the other apprentice entered the competition, and spent a day at the final in Coventry (which we won!).

    8/10

  • 9. Would you recommend PA Consulting to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • PA Consulting is a fantastic place to work. The opportunities which you are presented with are second to none, and no two days are ever the same, each presenting new and exiting challenges. The support that comes along side the learning aspect of the apprenticeship really brings everything together into one enjoyable experience. The work which you will undertake at PA is exiting and innovative, and you will not be left bored I assure you.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to PA Consulting?
  • When I applied to PA, the process was quick compared to other companies. There was a telephone interview, followed by an assessment day. The response from the company was very quick compared with bigger companies. The assessment day was engaging and an overall interesting experience. It was a good mixture of serious interview and more light hearted and fun activities. The thing to focus on too is not to get all of the correct answers first time, but to demonstrate good technique and thought process.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Engineering

East of England

July 2018


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