Technical Apprentice Review

I am involved in the modelling and detailing of steel structures as well as producing technical drawings such as fabrication drawings, paint masking drawings and general arrangement drawings. I also communicate with designers, project engineers and project managers with anything that I see needs to be changed and or improved.

I have learnt a lot whilst in work as I came from a back ground of no experience what so ever within the engineering industry. I've learnt how to operate the main BIM software that the company uses which is Tekla Structures as well as being on day release for the past 4.5 years I've gained a knowledge of lots of other things on a much broader scale at college and university.

I really enjoy working on this program as there is a clear pathway and progression route through the company with the apprenticeship scheme that has been implemented since I've started. I really enjoy working within a team and being able to learn first hand the requirements of the job from my older and more experienced peers. I also enjoy going to university and being able to to learn about other things that I wouldn't have had any exposure to if I wouldn't have been on an apprenticeship.

The structure of the apprenticeship program is extremely good as the company have now introduced a clear pathway document detailing at what point in your apprenticeship you should have learnt / achieved certain attributes which also tie into those attributes that the ICE outline for you to be able to gain chartership.

I receive all of the support that I need and I feel that if I need any help then the best thing to do is ask and that all of the people around me are more than willing to help - everybody is approachable. We also have a great Learning and Development Manager in Ceri Travers who is always there if we require any assistance in anything to do with university / college.

The company has a hub where information such as useful books and documents are kept which can be accessed all of the time - this is continually updated by the apprentices ourselves to help out the next generation. We also get given half a days study leave before each of our exams that we have which is extremely useful.

One of the most beneficial qualifications I have done when I was at Alliance Learning was the Level 2 BTEC in Fabrication and Welding - this gave me an appreciation of how things were build in the fabrication shop which I otherwise wouldn't have known. This especially gave me an advantage going into the drawing office as these are the kind of problems we think about everyday.

There are many social activity events that we can attend (pre-COVID) such as Friday afternoon football and pay-day drinks. Another beneficial extra curricular activity is the CPD events run at dinner times - these events broaden our knowledge of engineering and make us become more well rounded individuals.

Yes

There is an extremely good apprenticeship structure with a good pay scheme that goes with it. There are many good people who work for the company who will most definitely be willing to pass their knowledge on.

Attend the open evening run by the company which is hosted at the headquarters in Bury and ask as many questions to the people there as you can. I'd also encourage people to go to the Alliance Learning open evening.