Aeronautical Engineer Apprentice Review

1 day a week release to college where we work towards our LVL3 NVQ. Other 4 days onsite following a rotation plan set out by the company in order for us to gain experience and knowledge for our role and to gain evidence for our logs and NVQ. Monthly reviews ensure we are on track and if any support is required it can be provided.

Since starting my apprenticeship you are continuously moving teams and working with a variety of groups, developed my hand fitting skills and gaining experience for every section you go on. With continuously changing sections you are continuously gaining experience with a variety of jobs and skills you wouldn't normally undergo.

The programme is enjoyable by the people you work with, if the support on the shop floor is good then your days are really productive and enjoyable but due to not being able to complete jobs by yourself if there is a few people off or other "non productive" staff on section then sometimes you can take a back seat and this is where the days aren't as enjoyable.

Individually I feel the apprenticeship is well run in the sense the company understand what they need to do in order to support you and the college understand what you need to have done but sometimes I feel the communication with us all is quite poor. Different assessors tell you different things and everyone is just abit unsure on how to totally satisfy the NVQ.

The Employer tends to leave you alone unless you actively request support or unless they feel you are struggling. There are several support systems in place with some being anonymous and I feel that is the right way to go about it. Monthly reviews allow opportunity to raise any issues you feel need addressed.

Support from the College is good, monthly reviews and checkups allow us to stay on top of the work, any questions we can drop an email and often they meet us weekly to ensure if there is anything we need done they can help with. Regular communications with the company aswell.

I feel the job itself we could learn without the qualification as a lot of it is on ob experience but the college course open your eyes to the seriousness of the industry wework in and how easy mistakes can happen and often how big an impact those mistakes can be. They set you up with a good surface knowledge when you come up on site but even then you are still lacking huge amounts which can only be learnt on the shop floor.

Multiple sports team to be involved with which you can sign up to and play regular social or league matches such as cricket, cycling, squash, rugby. there is also a healthahead scheme which offers the oppertunity to get involved with local fitness evens such as the super half marathon cardiff

Yes

good workplace which looks after its employees with beneifts such as healthcare. Worldwide recognized qualification meaning if you move country or lose your job then you will have the opportunity of employment anywhere in the world.

make sure you pass your GCSEs, get as much work experience under your belt as possible, volunteer and help out with anything you can. apply every year and don't be put off if you cant get in first time. You will need to prepare a lot for the interviews and tests