Technical Apprentice Review

My day to day role has varied based on which apprenticeship placements I have been in. My current placement is in software engineering. My daily tasks in software include writing and debugging code for windows applications mobile apps, or microcontrollers. I have daily interactions with my placement supervisor regarding the work I am completing. I also have interactions outside of my placement with the other apprentices I am working with on non-project related tasks such as STEM events etc.

I have developed a lot of skills during my apprenticeship, both technical and soft skills. Through my college qualifications, I have become better at writing technical reports as well as activities such as soldering, machining, and programming. Internal training courses include mandatory training, such as health and safety, but also optional training. For example, I have experienced new ways of working through Agile and Scrum Training. Person skills have been improved. I have become better at presenting and public speaking. also networking skills by meeting people in other similar companies through an early careers network that the company encouraged me to become part of.

I enjoy my programme on the whole. There are some placements that were less enjoyable due to restrictions from working from home etc. But now back to work full time, i feel better integrated into the team I am working with. Company culture is good. All of the teams that I have worked closely with are inclusive and welcoming when joining a placement. More experienced employees seem free and happy to give their time teaching and guiding apprentices, in my experience. The programme and the company have exceeded my expectations. The placements give a good perspective of the company as a whole, and give enough experience for me to make up my mind about which placement I would like to spend the rest of my career in. The college has not met my expectations. Some units have been very enjoyable, but some have not. There is huge variation between the best teachers and the worst. There are a few who are massively helpful, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. However, the others are less so. There have been cases where I have gone into a unit expecting to really enjoy it, but come out of it the exact opposite, due to an unenthusiastic teacher or poorly written and uninspiring assignments.

The programme is well structured. My induction was thorough and gave a good introduction to the company. Training at the college has been a little disorganised and lacked a clear focus one anything beyond the current work. There is no perspective on progress across a 2-4 year course. Training in work is well structured using an online tool and in person sessions. This training is frequent enough and thorough. Support and review meetings are well organised and set up months in advance to maintain the tempo of these meetings. In terms of placements, some responsibility for organisation is given to the apprentice which is beneficial. I have gained experience leading meetings and organising placement activities. Support is still there though.

Support from my manager is perfect. My apprentice manager is well organised, knowledgeable and extremely helpful and reassuring. Not enough good words to say. There was a period where apprentice management changed frequently and support did wane during this time. This has been resolved now my apprentice manager has returned. I have regular review meetings where support is offered and I feel free and able to ask for advice/support with all issues, in and out of my placements. I receive support and advice from my placement supervisor as well. this is better for technical advice, as well as help with career outlook and targets more closely linked to the role I want to end up in.

Support from the college varied greatly. Some teachers give good support and feedback and over a clear path for improvements. The other teachers offer very little support towards the qualification. Additional support may be there if i pushed to get it, but its not as freely available as in the workplace.

Some units link very well to my role and give me hands on experience with skills that I will alter use in work, such as software programming, soldering, and 3D modelling. Many other units have been mostly irrelevant. The nature of the course delivery means that i have to complete some units that are not linked to my job, because of the way the college is running the course. For example, in my electrical and electronic engineering HNC, the optional units have been chosen in such a way that means I have to complete the same units as the general engineering HNC. The optional units were not decided based on how relevant they are to my course, they were chosen to make the delivery easier for the tutors. My HNC course has been designed so that I can be put in a class that is 90% general engineering students, because all of our units are the same.

Extra curricular activities are numerous. In my experience, I have been involved in STEM events such as a remote work experience programme I worked on during covid, for local school students with an interest in engineering. Each year, we also put on a robotics challenge for students where we provide a kit of components for them to build and allow them to come on site and compete in challenges against rival schools. This is largely supported by apprentices. There have been a lot of charity events and initiatives organised and run by apprentices, including help with bake sales/raffles etc. I have been involved in an early careers network with other apprentices and graduates at companies in the same engineering sector as mine. This has given me a good perspective of how these other organisations operate, the career opportunities out there, and a chance to meet people in a similar position to me.

Yes

I would recommend Leonardo to a fiend because of the good working environment, and freedom and independence that I can have during my work. The company offers flexibility in working arrangements so I can chose a way of working that suits me. The company has a large range of products which offers opportunity to diversify my skills and gain experience with a range of systems as I get further into my career.

In the application process, it seemed like the company valued an interest and experiences with engineering and technology instead of just looking at qualifications. My assessment day gave an opportunity to show off the work I had done on previous projects so i would suggest a new applicant should find ways to get involved in making/tinkering outside of school work. Once onboarded, I would suggest putting yourself forward wherever you can. The extracurricular activities come from a range of sources so if you want to get involved, you have to put yourself out there.