Apprentice CNC Machinist Review

I'm currently in the first year of my marine engineering apprenticeship with Babcock, as a CNC Machinist, which is based 5 days a week (for the first year) at City College Plymouth, along with some site visits throughout the academic year to Devonport Dockyard. I have 3 days of workshop sessions per week, along with 1 tech day, as well as a half day classroom session do the required written coursework. So far this academic year, I have been doing hand skills related work, as well as manual milling and turning on milling machines and lathes in the workshop. I shall begin working on the CNC Machines in the workshop after Easter.

Yes, since starting the apprenticeship, I have learnt and developed numerous skills in the workshop. I had done little to no metal work prior to starting this apprenticeship, so I have gained lots of knowledge and experience with working with metal and engineering principles since then. This includes hand skills such as filing and using pillar drills, as well as manual milling (on a milling machine) and turning (on a lathe).

Overall I am enjoying the programme. There have been a few issues here and there throughout the year, mainly in the form of slow communication and organisation between staff/ admin at the college, which has led to some delays with carrying out work to time schedules, but these problems have all usually been resolved ok.

As said in the previous question, there have been a few issues with communication and organisation at the college throughout the academic year, but these usually all get resolved ok.

There is quite a lot of support available to me from my employer, for instance for mental wellbeing etc.

I have review sessions every so often college with my instructor, in order for them to check in with me how I'm getting on with the course.

It is giving me the required skills, knowledge and experience which I will need, in order to be able to eventually carry out the role I am training for.

The Student Union at college offer extra-curricular activities. I am also doing a 5 day residential trip with Babcock later this year, which will include different activities as well as team building.

Yes

Because overall they're I decent company to work for. I also think the apprenticeship scheme which they offer is a good, as the quality of training which you receive is decent, and offer a competitive salary, plus a number of other benefits too.

Make sure that you look at what specialism you'd like to do prior to going to the interview. Also make sure that you've done some research into the company, so you know some background knowledge about them, such as what sort of work they carry out and in what fields, as well as what countries they are based in etc.