Rating

9.5/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Carrying out maintenance and overhaul activities on aircraft engines. Apprentices rotate around the factory spending up to a month on each section in order to improve hand skills, manual familiarisation and knowledge of the tasks carried out on site. Apprentices are encouraged to work along side different teams to improve communication skills and in order to meet new people. Tasks can vary from day to day.

    10/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have learnt a wide range of new engineering skills. Skills that were taught within the first year in college such as using new tooling and equipment have been developed whilst working on site along side experienced aircraft engineers. The knowledge I have gained from working with fitters has helped so much! My confidence in carrying out tasks has greatly improved whilst working on site.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I do enjoy the GE Aviation Wales apprenticeship, it is not what I thought it would be like- it's much better. I enjoy interacting with different people on a daily basis. This could be the people your working with carry out the tasks or the management team. I enjoy the fact that apprentices are encouraged to give everything a go and ask for help when needed.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The programme is structured in a way that we spend our first year in Coleg y Cymoedd learning the theory behind aircraft and engines which gives us a basic knowledge and understanding of different aspects before we get into the factory in the second year. In the second year we spend 1 day a week in college then 4 days in the factory. This is when we rotate around the factory on each engine line or repair sections. The structure of the programme works well however, if we miss a week of work then we may not get a chance to visit the sections we have missed.

    9/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • The support apprentices are given runs through the organisations training department. We have an apprentice co-ordinator who is able to help us with any issues we may have. We also have a number of apprentice assessors based all around the site who are able to offer support with our NVQ.

    10/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • During our second year we spend one day a week in the college. During this time we undertake different lessons for topics related to aircrafts. The college supports us when completing our assignments. Then when we are in the factory we are also completing an NVQ- The college has a member of staff that is based within the factory part time who is able to offer guidance with our work. GE has also trained up a number of apprentice assessors.

    10/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • The qualification we undertook within the first year allowed us to gain a basic understanding of the aircraft and their engines, this prepared us for work within the factory. We also undertook workshop modules that improved our hand skills and tooling knowledge which I found was vital once starting work within the factory. However I would like to see more of the skills we use in the factory be taught within the college.

    8/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • Yes, There are many teams within GE Aviation Wales, such as a rugby team, football team, golf team. There is also a women's network that allows women within engineering to meet. GE also offers the opportunity to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Apprentices also take part in a week long residential trip which encourages team work and bonding.

    9/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend GE Aerospace to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • GE Aviation Wales is a very well thought of company that I am proud to work for. Everyone I know that works here enjoys work and encourages their friends to apply for jobs. The GE Aviation Wales apprenticeship is very well thought of and is known to be of a high standard. I actively encourage my friends to apply for roles when they are available.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to GE Aerospace?
  • I would encourage people, especially young people to get in contact with the company to arrange work experience. This allows people to have a go at jobs that they may end up doing and gain a better understanding of what we don on site and what it is like. I would encourage people to do their research and find out more about the company.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Engineering

Wales, UK

January 2019


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