Technician Apprentice

Esme is a Level 4 Technician Apprentice. Her apprenticeship combines college study with hands-on placements in areas like wing systems and procurement. She has gained technical skills, confidence and leadership experience. She aims to progress to a senior manufacturing engineer role.

What attracted you to the GKN Aerospace apprenticeship?

I actually did a week’s work experience here while I was at school and that definitely gave me a bit of an insight into what it’s like and how everything works here. I also took engineering as a GCSE, so I knew I wanted to work in engineering. And when I was looking into work experience, I Googled some engineering places near me and GKN Aerospace was pretty much the first one. I looked into it and thought it was really cool that they work on plane wings, so I managed to contact someone.

What was your introduction to the programme like?

On the first day we all came onto the GKN Aerospace site at Filton, and had a tour. And they went over the main safety rules, how everyone works here and all the main things we needed to be aware of. Then on the second day, we went to college on a coach and had a tour of the college.

For the first year, we were at college five days a week from September to the end of January, and then for the rest of the year we worked two days a week and had college for three days.

What placements have you had?

As a technician you get a mix of hands-on experience and office experience. We have three-month placements in different areas from January of our first year to the end of our third year. Then for the fourth year you choose one final placement for the whole year out of all the places you've been. Then ideally, after your final placement, you qualify and get a job there.

At the moment, I’m deciding which area to go into for my final year. There are wing systems, which deals with all the pipes and the fuel through the wings. Then there's the IMF, which is our big machine shop where all the big aircraft parts are made. Our job there is to assess if we can save any damaged parts by reworking them instead of scrapping them, which is cool because it's quite technical. I also liked procurement, which was dealing with our suppliers.

You have a say on which area you join, but it depends on how you present yourself when you're in your placement.

How have you been able to make an impact?

On my placement in wing systems, I was involved in a big project looking at our part marking system. This is the system that puts all the identification on the pipes, and it has to be in the exact correct spot. We brought in this new system using projections, so you can put the pipe down on the workbench and the system is overhead and shines the markings down on where you should line the pipe. It was a pretty good project.

What support have you had through the apprenticeship?

We have a really good apprentice manager, who’s always there for us, no matter how big or small the question is. She's always on your side. And all the apprentices support each other as well. But at GKN Aerospace, if there’s an apprentice looking lost or confused, anyone will check they’re OK and help out.

We also have log-book reviews, which is a one-hour meeting each month with a mentor, where you can talk about your placement and if there are any questions. So it is quite good.

What skills have you learned?

When I first joined I was quite shy and anxious person. When I joined each placement, I would be quite nervous about getting to know new people. But when I joined procurement, there was this person who helped me and basically he just really built my confidence so I had the confidence to lead meetings.

I told him I struggled with new people and he gave me a task to make a presentation on a topic I knew. I play hockey, so I decided to present on hockey. I did the presentation to him and one other person. He said it went well, but he also gave me feedback on what to improve. Then two weeks later, he asked me to redo the same presentation, but to five people who I didn't know. That really helped me, and now I think I could confidently give a presentation to a whole room of people who I don't know.

What’s the apprentice community like?

It's really nice because all the apprentices in different years are one big group. So I'm friends with some of the first years and we go out for nights together. I also think it's good to have another girl's back, so all the girls are friends with each other.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I'm definitely hoping to move up and become a senior manufacturing engineer. That’s my first target and then if I can get even higher than that, that would be good.