Higher Mechanical Apprentice Review

Item: Higher Mechanical Apprentice at Babcock International Group
Rating: 3.8
Author: Anonymous

at Babcock International Group

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Engineering

Plymouth

Review Submitted: April 2021

Overall Rating

3.8 /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!

3.5/5 - Overview of Role

4/5 - Skills Development

3.4/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

3/5

I am a first year higher mechanical apprentice, so currently I spend two days in college doing practical work that can range from using Mills and Lathes to taking apart diesel engines, and another day working from home doing college lessons virtually.

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

4/5

I enjoy the program the most when I am learning, for example stripping old pumps to learn about them, as opposed to just taking out nuts and bolts for no reason. With the pandemic some things are a little bit worse (like home learning), but overall I really enjoy myself.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

4/5

I have definitely developed and learnt new skills so far. Coming into this apprenticeship, my primary practical experience had come from being in my school workshop doing mini projects, so being able to spend an extended period of time focussing only on practical skills has been really beneficial to me.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

3/5

I think some aspects are more organised than others, for example the theory work curriculum is structured well, but more recently on my practical days it feels like nothing has been organised and we are doing mindless work just for the sake of it.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

4/5

I feel I get plenty of support from Babcock. Whilst I don't often speak face to face with anyone from the company, I know that if I ever needed to or if I had any problem at all that I could contact them and be helped.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

4/5

I feel like I get more than enough support, the tutors are always available for one to one's if I need any help and they give us plenty of resources to learn from. I mostly feel that if I need more support, I can get it.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

4/5

Currently, with my future career undecided, it's hard to know what's useful and what isn't. However, I think certain lessons like Engineering Science really help me better understand the trade, and if I were to go into something like CAD then I would feel well prepared.

Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

2/5

Not currently, but if there were meant to be they would have been cancelled due to Covid.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Babcock International Group to a friend?

Yes

Why?

Because they have some of, if not the, best apprenticeships in Plymouth. You're well looked after, the training is quality, they have a wide range of career paths, and the experience you can get in the dockyard can't be found elsewhere in the city.

What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Babcock International Group?

Be yourself in the application and interview process, and show your enthusiasm for the trade. Keep yourself open to learning new things, and take every opportunity you can to improve your skills. Also, everybody learns at a different pace, so don't compare yourself to others.

View All Company Reviews