Rating

5.5/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Once on site, you could be in any manufacturing role (training) although the co-ordinators will ask what you would prefer if possible. You may be working in a pulpit consistently, or shop floor or even a mix of both. Likely to be working with unit trainer to gain competency.

    7/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I learnt quite a few new skills during my apprenticeship, gaining knowledge of a manufacturing environment which I would find useful later on as I moved through departments.

    7/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • Unfortunately my programme clearly was not setup very well. While the college side of the programme were quite adequate, I found once on site, the local co-ordinators did not know what to do with me and ended up being juggled between different areas with not a very clear goal.

    5/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • Reasonably well structured from the NVQ/NC side of things, but once again on site was a different matter. Although it should be noted I was one of the first apprentices to come through, and there has been many since, and I have seen improvement in the organisation of the training for apprentices.

    5/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I found I was given a fair amount of support from my employer during my apprenticeship, although at times it may have been lacking, I knew I could ask for most things within reason and I would be given a helping hand.

    7/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • This one was a bit of a mixed bag. The NVQ at the time was a bit of generalisation of the steel making process, although it seems to have improved now, back when I was working on mine I found myself constantly coming to barriers as my departmental placement was not suitable for me to carry out logbook entries.

    5/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • Honestly, I do not think the actual NVQ qualification has done much for myself, apart from perhaps the health and safety side of the qualification which has aided me with audits etc. It was far to broad and general, and I was essentially left to my own devices to complete it, with my varifiers being from the college and not from on site.

    4/10

  • 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.)
  • During the apprenticeship they did have a fair few team bonding days which I must say I did enjoy in the first year. After this though there was not much in terms of extracurricular activities at all. I suppose it would depend on which department you end up in, some may offer more than others.

    4/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Tata Steel to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • Dispite some of my complaints during my apprenticeship, the end goal was worth it, and I can see with my own eyes the training for apprentices has become far more structured and useful. It can be an interesting place to work, although not for everyone.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Tata Steel?
  • Learn the history of tata steel and be able to talk about up to date issues during your interview. If possible attempt to get a copy of the local works newspaper as there may be some topics in there you can talk about. If you are interested in a certain area to work in particular, express interest.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Port Talbot

July 2019


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