Engineering Maintenance Apprentice Review

My job role when I finish my apprenticeship will be to help maintain the plant on Sizewell B power station, however for my first two years I am based in Somerset training full time at Bridgwater and Taunton College to attain a level 3 Engineering BTEC. For my third and fourth years I will be based on-site at Sizewell B to gain experience with one day a week at college working at a HNC.

During my first year I have developed and learn many new skills regarding engineering in general, before we split into our specific trades next year (Mechanical, Electrical and Control & Instrumentation). Under mechanical I have learn lots about bearings, gears, lubrication etc. C&I has included lots on monitoring feedback (temperature, pressure etc) as well as calibrating equipment.

I enjoy my programme very much and do not regret my decision to begin it over a more popular a-levels/college route after leaving school. It has provided me with the opportunity to enhance my theoretical knowledge as well as gain practical skills in a safe environment, all the while being paid.

My programme is very well structured, and has been manipulated extremely well to cover as much practical work as possible while still physically at college, leaving mainly just written work to be completed online during lockdowns. The programme is structured in such a way so that you are given just the right amount of information to be able work independently, all the while support is available if necessary.

Having a specialised apprenticeship co-ordinator for each site means that support is always within reach if I need it, wether this be regarding the welfare of my stay away from home at the college residential site, travel, support with the work itself, clothing + PPE and arranging my holiday and time on-site.

Even while working remotely the support from the college with our work has been very good, we are able to view lecture notes online via google classrooms, Microsoft teams etc, video call lessons, message and call 1-1 for extra help if necessary. Furthermore, while at college the support was always more than adequate to complete the work required of us, both practical and theory.

From my limited time working onsite I can tell that my work at college is putting me in a good position; I am able to help out on jobs, as well as actually grasp an understanding of what is going on in the job, rather than blankly follow instructions. The onsite safety culture is also transferred through to college, this has also helped me fit in well onsite.

While we are based at college in Somerset there have been a number of extra circular activities to take part in, in the near future we have a week long outward bound course to take part in to help develop team working skills, as well as a fundraiser parachute jump.

Yes

I would recommend an apprenticeship such as this one to many people leaving school, but the high level training and future job opportunities of working for EDF stand out particularly. EDF will ensure to accommodate as many of your needs and wants as possible while training, both onsite and away at college.

I would suggest researching EDF as company and their nuclear sites specifically, as well as the safety culture associated with them before interviewing to provide a good background knowledge. This coupled with having a genuine interest in engineering will present you well as someone who can be trained to work professionally.