mechanical design apprentice Review

General day to day duties is non-complex design duties, intelligent back draughting and simple jobs such as collecting data sheets. minimal work can be given as a result of experience and education levels as we are still learning. There is good work available but in some cases it must be looked for.

I have developed well as a result of the efforts that I put into the scheme, I want to get the most out of it so I will actively look for work and development opportunities that are available to all of us. all in all I have developed very well.

The programme has ran relatively well but we don't feel as supported by managers as we should be and the development side of the business seem to promise lots to us in pledges and commitments but don't seem to deliver. everything works in theory but in actuality our schemes have not been well organised.

the structure of the programme needs improvement as there is a defined timescale for the scheme of 2 years but there are people who can finish sooner but in the eyes of the company you aren't competent until you have completed the 4 year period which is a shame.

we receive enough support from someone in the company but it doesn't seem like we get enough support from the people who are actually in charge of our development. out line managers are understanding and helpful but it seems like there are lots of things that are lacking in the scheme.

Training 2000 provide a minimum standard of support it seems, they will do it if it needs to be done but it takes some time. We have to wait for other people who are more urgent, which is fair, but regardless we have to wait for things like tasks to be marked that could have been signed off months ago. We too have a day job to get on with.

The training makes a difference in the workplace but I feel that the qualification doesn't matter at all in the sense that we can't stop until we have a degree level qualification for the best route of progression and the NVQ L3 is just a stepping stone, not a permanent position.

I have rarely seen anything to do with Cavendish out of work such as social activities from the company themselves. There are xmas parties that have been organised by individuals but not on a company basis really. there are Professional networking events after work from the Professionally registered companies such as the IET and IMechE.

Yes

All thing considered the company is good to work for there are just lots of small issues that shouldn't be occurring that are being allowed to slip by un-noticed. Support is an issue as we don't feel as though we are getting enough from relevant people in the business.

Be prepared that you will need to force things to happen and nothing is going to be handed to you, you always need to do the work weather it is to organise a placement or to ask for more work, not very much is going to be done for you and you will be forgotten about.