MechanicalApprentice Review

Start work at and get straight into workshop practical tasks. First 18 months is purely training in a workshop environment until you finally go out on placements. Work within the workshop is designed to mimic work out in the business but task are performed on older and outdated machines. This is suitable for basic knowledge but could be improved.

Yes, the instructors are incredibly competent and knowledgeable. New skills are learnt everyday. Even people who have had previous experience find themselves learning new skills everyday. Skills are learnt from a. Range of practical and theoretical sessions. The only downside to this is the lack of availability when help is required from instructors.

The programme ha sits ups and downs, it excels in some area in other areas it is particularly lacking. Apprentices are treated not as professionals outside of the academy and other site staff which can be very demoralising at times. Even within the academy apprentices are often all painted with the same brush.

There seems to be an initial structure to tasks and day to day life, however if you become ahead or behind on work there seems to be little in a way of structure to either of structure to catch up or extension takes to take on. It all seems to be a little last minute.

In some areas support is very very good. In other areas and circumstances you often find yourself being left to your own devices with very little assistance. This is generally because instructors are stretched so thin for the number of apprentices within the training facility. It would help if there one or two more staff on hand

No dedicated time while at work to study college programs, this can get difficult sometimes as the qualifications under taken require a reasonable amount of study time. From my understanding it is recommended that a study day aside from the day at college is necessary to keep a healthy work life balance. However this is not provided.

I feel that the qualifications is just paperwork to prove your competency, it seems to have very little relation to what we do on site. There are no practical elements on our course and only one or two units line up with what we do at the company. This is ashame as it would be helpful to workday if the qualification was more tailored to our job roles.

There are many social activities to take part in for the apprentices and stag. From airsoft to pubsocials, it is a very sociable and friendly atmosphere. There is also a gym and bar that you can be a member of which is nice, o top of that you have the opportunity to get discounts.

Yes

Although the apprenticeship needs allot of improvement the end result is very promising. Good pay, a good company and many benefits. The culture on site is very positive and seems to be a very rewarding atmosohere, it seems a shame that the apprentice academy is so seperwted from site in terms of reward and values.

Awe is an incredibly well established company, they offer good salary, good benefits and a very staple career. The first few years of your apprenticeship might be grueling and tough but they will be worth it in the long run. I recommended the company to anyone who applies as the apprenticeship is just a stepping stone to your future career.