Engineering Degree Apprentice Review

6 month job rotations around the business to gain experience in a variety of different roles, whilst supporting part time study towards your degree. First year project revolves around a 1 year project in which you have to manage the project from start to finish including customers and researching from different people around the business.

The program has allowed me to develop a number of skills through a variety of modules at University, as such I have been able to explore the subject areas that interest me most, where I might not have thought about them previously. At work, the opportunity to shadow older apprentice years also gives an opportunity to learn a range of skills due to the variety of rotations occupied across the business.

I find the programme to be very rewarding due to the large number of opportunities presented in the business. The ability to manage your own time and take responsibility in your working day is what I enjoy about the apprenticeship, as it means you are able to make the most of your time and focus on what is beneficial to you.

The first year of the apprenticeship is well structured, with assistance to help you settle into the business and into a professional working life in general. The tasks laid out are clear with deadlines to meet, and progressing into later years of the apprenticeship the scheme is clearly laid out.

The employer is very supportive in whatever tasks I may need help with. There are many other apprentices who have completed very similar tasks and so are happy to help, but having met a number of people across the business, I have found that anybody is very supportive and eager to help.

The college we attend for our University modules is very helpful both in and out of the scheduled lectures. The staff are generally well informed but they are also happy to help with individual academic needs, or assistance we may need from the College in order to complete our work project.

The Degree studied through University is specific and tailored towards the working life at GE. This means that skills learnt through my qualification can be embedded into my mind through real-world practice at work. Having work and qualification linked closely together helps with aspects of both, partly because of the amount of support available from both sides of the link.

There are a large number of events at work to become involved in. Alongside various clubs for people with similar interests to meet, there are often social events organised by close teams, as well as events happening inside of work. This can include voluntary training courses and presentations with external speakers as well as internal presentations.

Yes

Despite the company being quite a large facility, it has a very friendly and approachable feel throughout the business. People are very welcoming and approachable, and contacts involved with the apprenticeship programme offer excellent support with both work and academic aspects. I also feel there are a large number of opportunities in the business for my future career.

Make sure you perform proper research into the company and it's career options available before application. Gain some relevant work experience and take place in other schemes than can demonstrate your enthusiasm for engineering and why you would be the best fit for the company. Approach the application with an open mind and show yourself honestly.