Higher Apprentice (Degree) Aerospace Engineering Review
at Rolls-Royce
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Derby
Review Submitted: July 2020
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
My role is to assist the team I am placed with and learn more about their roles in order to continue my development. My first placement involved helping to write reports within a Stress team and assit in smaller projects such as altering spreadsheets used by the team as a directory. I am about to start a placement assisting another business area that involves working with engineering drawings.
Additionally I work towards a level 4 NVQ in Aerospace Engineering and my Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
The practical skilsl I've learned will benefit my personal hobbies such as DIY and drone building.
I enjoy the challenges I've faced which has helped me grow as an individual and expanded my knowledge.
It has also been the first job I've had where I genuinely look forward to going to work each day.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
As part of my first year I learned a number of partical skills such as Turning, milling, welding, CNC programming, electrical and electronics.
During my degree I have learned a number of analytical methods such as integration and differentiation.
I have also learned how to use a number of programs such as Autocad, Inventor, Siemens NX and Teamcentre as part of a Product Lifecycle Management course which also taught me Technical drawing skills.
I have also learned teamwork, communication and personal skills from Outward Bounds.
The list goes on.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
How much support do you receive from your employer?
My apprentice development lead has been very supportive and helped me in many ways both professional and personal to enable me to be at my best. The business continues to support me even through the current global crisis which is having a large impact on the aviation industry.
And I truly feel that Rolls-Royce is one of the best companies to work for.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
My lecturers have been extremely helpful and supportative, especially our tutor/network lead who regularly provided additional support to assist us.
The provider regularly collects feedback in order to enable them to improve the programme. They provide feedback on assignments and answer questions to enable us to improve on future submissions.
The training provider(s) also provide extra sessions if we request them to support us further.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
One of my future role possibilities is designer and the knowledge provided by my qualifications will enable me to produce better models and drawings and meet industry standards. In the past two years I have learned a great deal and I believe that whatever my future holds my career will be in a much better position having completed these qualifications.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
Additionally Rolls-Royce has a leisure facility which holds an number of activites that employees can take part in/use such as tennis courts.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Rolls-Royce to a friend?
Why?
Rolls-Royce is definately in the top five Apprenticeship provides with the likes of Airbus and Dyson. From day one they look after your needs and encourage to you to be at your best. Working with you to push yourself to develop as a person and an engineer. I know that even if they are unable to offer me a position due to the impact of Covid-19 I'll still be in a much better position for having gone through the apprenticeship.
Although I do hope that I am able to secure a position in Rolls-Royce so I can continue learning.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Rolls-Royce?
That said not many companies will support you as much as Rolls-Royce will. You'll get to work with a diverse team and making lasting friendships that will no doubt help you no matter what.
Be bold. Be brave and work hard, and if you don't succeed the first time, ask for feedback, grow and apply again next year. We learn nothing from success but failure teaches us how to avoid repeating our mistakes.