Apprentice Fabrication Engineer Review

Completing a variety of fabrication engineer work on ship and within a workshop. We also have units to complete for our college work. Tasks daily change day to day depending on the need of the customer (Royal Navy). Could be from undoing bolts, to welding and gas cutting. Every member of staff has a line manager that they report to daily and they will state what jobs and tasks need to be completed and within what time scale.

I have learnt a huge variety of new skills throughout my apprenticeship so far. I started with no engineering experience at all; now I am confident and competent in what I am trained in. This includes using hand tools, machinery, hot works, working aloft and theory work. We complete book work for our qualification and have to evidence all of our training, assessments and knowledge through exams.

I hugely enjoy my programme as it includes essential learning in order to progress with my knowledge, training and career. I enjoy both of the theory and practical work. The theory work is slow and hard to concentrate on at times as the way it is conveyed can lack enthusiasm. The theory work needs so more clarity and planning at times as there have been times that the training providers are not entirely sure what is meant to be happening and there is not much certainty. The practical work is really beneficial and enjoyable. Within the first year the learning covers a wide variety of engineering, although the majority is directed and relevant to my personal trade. I would suggest that there are too many apprentices and not enough instructors and that the ratio needs to be looked at. The work from second year onwards is great as it is based out in the yard and you are treated a lot better and the jobs are all jobs that your trade has to undertake.

The training centre are not good at organising and structuring the programme. The ratio between apprentices and instructors is not correct and more instructors should be hired in order to create more stability and certainty. The instructors are not entirely sure on what is happening all of the times and the organising is left to one person for the whole centre. This is too much for one person to handle, especially when they need to teach classes too. There is a lot of waiting around.

Out in the business, line managers and trade heads are very supportive and helpful in all aspects. I have received a huge amount of support from them since starting my placement out in the yard. However, the support within the training centre is of very low quality. A lot of members of staff do not take complaints or issues seriously, consequently it leads to situations escalating when they could have been avoided.

There is a fair amount of support in relation to training and working towards my qualifications. Especially now that the second year has started and I have received my NVQ pack with all of my units in. It is planned out and I know exactly what I need to complete in order to achieve my qualification. There is also an assessor on site that gives out appointments each month and fortnightly to give 1:1 help with it. The instructors within the training centre are very helpful when allocated the time, but they lack any additional time to help with anyone struggling and a lot is left to self teaching or revising.

My qualification is highly relevant, suitable and helpful for my career path. Everything learnt and completed does relate to engineering, some parts however I will likely never use within my career. Although, it is an nice addition for future reference but it is not essential. This could be left towards the end and be optional.

There are a lot of extra-curricular activities to get involved in. Personally I have been involved with STEM events, helping with visitors and work experience people, the RN boat challenge, AIC etc. However, a lot of the additional things are actually allocated by the head of apprenticeships. Some people may want to be involved but are not chosen. Any social activities or sports teams have been organised within ourselves and have nothing to do with the training providers or instructors.

Yes

It is beneficial and a stable career path to take. It may not be an easy journey but overall the outcome is worth it and will be beneficial in the long run. It's good learning, good money and work hours. There are always chances to do shift work and over time as well.

Start the apprenticeship with an open mind, it is not at all what I expected but in the long run it is worthwhile and rewarding. You get out what you put in and a lot of effort is required. It is not an apprenticeship that you can just sail through by doing no work.