Degree Apprentice Review

Each day is different. Given the nature of work one day you could be organising meetings the next on plant with coveralls and a hard hat gaining a practical appreciation of the many processes the company performs In between meetings or visits, a lot of time is spent writing my own documents or communicating with suppliers in order to help deliver projects effectively.

Before the apprenticeship, I had a very limited knowledge on how a company is run and key processes that occur within a company. Since starting, my awareness of how a business functions has increased immensely. This new gain knowledge has allowed me to hone my skills in communication, organisation, report writing as well as develop me confidence as a professional.

The sheer diversity in my day to day work has had a substantial effect on my enjoyment at work. Not having to simply sit at a desk and perform the same laborious tasks day in day out as other jobs may entail really gives me a sense of enjoyment coming into work and opportunities to try new and exciting tasks come by the handful.

During the first couple of months, the academic aspect to the course seemed somewhat unstructured but as the degree commenced there has been a notable improvement in organisation of the academic course. In regards to the workplace aspect of the job, being measured against a set of competencies is the main form of assessment. Given the diversity of the job roles available within the company there is a possibility that in some secondments not all competencies may be reached and you may be required to change rolls. These decisions are made on a case by case basis which is fair but it is noticeable some apprentices may end up bouncing around different offices significantly more than others which can be detrimental to the individual in terms of creating solid long term colleagues for the future

One of the main positives about the company is the amount of responsibility you are given as a young new starter - its not just copy and pasting spread sheets. As much as a positive as this is, some new starters may find this daunting to begin with. Thankfully, there is a designated pathway for getting support as an apprentice which will usually come in the form of your line manger (although the are many people beyond this should extra support be required). Within my team there is a constant discussion surrounding how I am coping and whether I need support which is really beneficial to allowing me to work at the highest level I can without becoming inundated with tasks. The general culture around the company of helping others is reflected in all aspects of work were all of my colleagues are happy to lend a hand

At the training provider, all the tutors are will to answer any of your questions regarding the work you are doing to point you in the right direction to get the information you require. There is a 2 hour designated time allocated each week to all apprentices that require academic support. Though beneficial, it can sometimes be difficult to attend due to the commitments/ workload at the employer e.g. clashes with an important meeting. To counter this, tutors can be emailed at anytime with queries and will often help and provide support with tasks through this system or allocate time where you can visit them in person.

Personally, within the parameters of the role I am currently working as the qualification I am undertaking currently isn't providing me with too much knowledge in regard to my day to day work. However, this can be liable to change if a different secondment is taken up. It would also be worth noting that although now the content I am learning doesn't specifically aid my current work, upon inspecting the programme of study upcoming topics will be critical in helping me perform my work.

In work there is the apprentice council which is ran by a group of elected apprentices (voted by members of their constituent year of study) which often runs many charity events on behalf of the company. Although there isn't any company representative sports teams I am aware off, many members of each department often engage in sporting activities with their colleagues which is a good substitute.

Yes

The variety of work you will be conducting is fantastic the spread of different roles within the company is extensive (putting it modestly) so there truly is something for everyone. It is also worth noting that it is a great way to enter the industry and gain valuable expertise in science and engineering.

Be willing to try new things. There are great possibilities that can be achieved through the scheme and plenty of doors to be opened. During your time, take the opportunity to learn about the process, the science, the engineering. Ask as many questions as you can you could be sat in an office with 100's of years of engineering experiences, some even from former apprentices so take the opportunity to "fill your boots" with knowledge as it will only help you become a better professional.