Menchanical engineering apprentice Review

On a day to day basis my role would be to assist and learn from experienced engineers in their daily duties. This can vary from maintenance to equipment or breakdowns of equipment. Anything that helps maintain the building and keeps it running. This also involves varies types of training courses to make sure you are adequately trained for the jobs your are doing.

I have learnt many new skills in my three years here. I have learnt key skills in the trade that can be transferred anywhere. These are skills like learning how to measure and bend pipe, how to weld various metals together, how basic mechanical principles work, how to use various machinery, etc.

I very much enjoy the programme whilst I have been here. The first year was spent in the training centre with other apprentices learning the basics of the trade. This was enjoyable as we were learning brand new skills and were in a new environment. The rest of the apprenticeship is spent around site in actual building learning from actual engineers. This is good as you are experiencing actual work and meeting new people

The structure of this program is very organised. There is a very laid out schedule for where you are spending time. This includes spending the first year learning all the basic skills in the training centre. Then in the second year you are placed within NNL to meet everyone and start learning skills on the job, then its spent around site gaining more experience before you inevitably get back to NNL to come out your time.

Whenever we need any assistance or support our line managers and supervisors are always there to help. They will always guide you in the right direction and if they cannot help directly they will usually put you into contact with someone that can, they are very supportive in any desire to get more training in subjects that can help you.

Once a week you will be sent to college on day release. IN the first two years this will be to earn your level 3 NVQ. Then, you will be sent to college on day a week to start working towards your HNC. They provide half a days leave for any exams as study leave.

The qualifications that we gain through doing this apprenticeship are very valuable and give you the theoretical knowledge and understanding of many mechanical principles and inner workings of all the equipment that you tend to work with when back on site. This is very useful in understanding how it all works.

The personnel at NNL tend to organise any extra curricular events that happen. This includes meals, meet ups and other activities. There is a Apprentice group that work on site that has multiple extra curricular opportunities throughout the year at a discounted price. This includes sports, trips, meals and days out.

Yes

Working for National nuclear laboratory has given me very good mechanical skills and knowledge and the experience I have gained from working on this site, in various building, you would struggle to find anyway else. There is such a variety of work and jobs that you'll never stop learning new things

Look into the company and find out what they do, it may not be directly linked into the apprenticeship but it will help you understand the company and how you will be working for. Be honest, polite, punctual and make a CV shows how you are good for this specific role.