Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

The first year of the apprenticeship consisted solely of completing Level 2 BTEC and NVQ at MakeUK technical college in Birmingham. In the second year I was on site during COVID, working in different areas of the factory floor, improving my practical skills, gaining experience assembling various products and applying knowledge learnt at Make. Throughout the second year, I had various weeks at home, completing Level 3 BTEC remotely. During the final two years of the apprenticeship, I have been on 3 month placements in various departments of the business, I have been in H&S, Field Services and I am currently working with the Industrial Engineers. I have mainly been helping the industrial engineers with their smaller tasks, such as writing and editing SOPs, and various other smaller tasks. This is whilst progressing with my Level 3 NVQ which is all 'on the job' coursework, completing job reports and knowledge questions. I am finding it beneficial and interesting exploring these different areas of the business, broadening my knowledge, understanding how a business operates and hopefully finding myself a position within business by the end of the apprenticeship.

Every skill that I have learnt is a new skill, new knowledge and experience for myself. I have learnt and applied the skills throughout the apprenticeship, both at college and on site. I have developed existing practical, 'hands on', mechanical based ability, from a novice to a moderately abled engineering apprentice. This has been improved through practical based units in the first year at college such as bench, turning, milling, welding and electrical work. I was able to apply these newly founded skills at work in the second year, improving my ability to select and use tooling, follow engineering drawings, instructions and following industry approved methods to correctly assemble various products on the shop floor.

I have mixed emotions about the first year solely spent at MakeUK technical college in Birmingham. I feel it would have been beneficial to try integrate the college side and work place learning together better, instead of learning skills after skills at college and waiting sometimes more than a year to apply these newly learnt skills. I feel the academic year could have been delivered better, the college seemed to of been lacking good managerial and organizational structure, this was clear to me as a student and was also expressed by many of the tutors, explaining that their was friction between tutors and management in the way that which they were treated and the way in which the college was operating. The facilities, equipment and resources were generally good, one of their buildings being more up to do date as their 'flag ship' site with modern equipment and functioning IT etc. Whereas the other building was quite dated, with lots of out dated, poorly maintained tooling and machinery, and the majority of computers not working. I would have also appreciated text books and written reliable resources of information to learn from and refer to, instead of having to use Google to further research subjects that were being taught and to complete assignments, not knowing whether the information presented was reliable or not. In hindsight, the college, like every other business across the globe, was thrown into a difficult, unprecedented challenge when faced with COVID-19. But I don't feel like this is a valid enough of an excuse for all the hurdles it failed at during my time with them. On the other hand, the tutors were the saving grace of the college as each and every one of the tutors were clearly experienced and knowledgeable in their area of profession. Keen to educate the class on what they needed to know and also additional knowledge in their profession which they were clearly passionate about and had multiple years of industry experience in. They were all very friendly, patient and excellent educators. I am really impressed by the way in which Knorr-Bremse is run, how the apprenticeship is being delivered, especially as part of the first year in the new format of the apprenticeship. I have felt supported throughout the apprenticeship by the apprentice leaders, pushing us, helping us in any way with the academic side of the apprenticeship, and eventually guiding us in the right direction towards a position upon completion of the apprenticeship. I have felt complete support and encouragement by all of management and every employee that I have worked with, keen to pass on their knowledge to myself. I feel that all my requests have been seen to and the business placement scheme has allowed myself to experience different positions and departments within the business, aiding me in the discovery of a permanent position upon completion of the apprenticeship.

As part of the first year of the new format of Knorr-Bremse's apprenticeship scheme, I feel that the programme is well organized and structured. Although I felt it would have been good to split up and integrate the solid block of college with workplace experience in the first year, I felt the following year of weekly blocks at home completing BTEC work worked well, as well as, the final two years of the apprenticeship working through the Level 3 NVQ coursework whilst rotating between placements between departments within the business.

I am really impressed by the way in which Knorr-Bremse is run, how the apprenticeship is being delivered, especially as part of the first year in the new format of the apprenticeship. I have felt supported throughout the apprenticeship by the apprentice leaders, pushing us, helping us in any way with the academic side of the apprenticeship, and eventually guiding us in the right direction towards a position upon completion of the apprenticeship. I have felt complete support and encouragement by all of management and every employee that I have worked with, keen to pass on their knowledge to myself. I feel that all my requests have been seen to and the business placement scheme has allowed myself to experience different positions and departments within the business, aiding me in the discovery of a permanent position upon completion of the apprenticeship.

In the first year at MakeUK, I received full support from the subject tutors we had for each unit. Three years into the apprenticeship, we have now had 4/5 apprenticeship tutors assigned to us, due to them departing from the college, which has made it not smooth at times. Each of them have shown support, reassuring us that they were always available to contact by phone/email if we were to ever get stuck with work.

I feel that the qualification that I am doing is well suited to Knorr-Bremse. We have covered multiple units that relate directly to the work undertaken. Even units that do not directly relate to the activities undertaken at the Knorr-Bremse are interesting and worthwhile being covered. A good example of this is the Engineering Project unit for BTEC Level 3, relating directly to the projects carried out by the Industrial Engineers.

I attend badminton sessions most Tuesdays which are organized within the business. Courts are booked at the local sports centre. This allows me to socialize with colleagues outside the workplace in an open environment. It also allows me to meet employees that work in different departments within the business, which I would never have spoken to if not.

Yes

For the right person, who has an interest in mechanical/practical based activities, it is a much better alternative to A Levels, sixth form college or going to university. Especially completing it through Knorr-Bremse own apprenticeship scheme as they encourage and push you to enable your full potential. Whilst investing in you and qualifying you to the highest of standards.

Take every opportunity you are given, don't say no to anything. Take every piece of advice / information you are given, especially from the older, experienced engineers. Make friends and create good working relationships with as many colleagues as possible. Try and keep your foot in every door, keep your options open for every available role / department. Every day is a school day. Remember that you are an apprentice and it is okay to make mistakes and to not know things, as long as you learn from it.