Planning Engineer Review
at Tata Steel
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Bridgend / Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4.3 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
My job involves organising the outages happening in the Power Plant. This can range from small pieces of equipment coming off for maintenance of large scale statutory outages. Included in this is organising the contractors, budgets, maintenance tasks etc. I am also in charge of relating information from other sections of the plant to my team from other planners as other departmental changes can affect our workload.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the training programme set for me. The inclusion of time set aside to complete NVQ and college requirements shows that the company understands how important it is to get this work done. The changes between office work, theoretical work included in training courses and practical skills mean that there is a varied approach to learning throughout the programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I am required to use Microsoft Project Planner as part of my role which I had no experience of before. My skills in using other Microsoft packages such as Excel have improved hugely. Outside of the office, I have learned a lot about mechanical devices such as pumps and pipework and the impact of changes to systems around the site. There are several different types of systems in TATA which require a lot of forward planning before maintenance can be completed on them.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The programme was set from the beginning of my time with TATA with clear guidelines and milestones being given. There are several required training courses which I was invited to immediately along with the other apprentices and graduates.
While the structure is secure with training milestones, an individual must also guide themselves throughout their training and work with the relevant people on site who are able to assist them with a particular topic.
While the structure is secure with training milestones, an individual must also guide themselves throughout their training and work with the relevant people on site who are able to assist them with a particular topic.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
There is so much support from TATA in ensuring that training is completed. Frequent 1-2-1 meetings with my line manager, assistance through training courses and time given to complete work outside of day to day tasks such as college assignments all help to create a supportive atmosphere. Training is also provided for everything on site, with no expectations of knowing everything without training and experience in the field. While some companies may expect a lot from new starters, TATA understand that there is a learning curve to be followed and that starts on your first day.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Bridgend College have given me a lot of support with completing my assignments. Throughout the pandemic, the college has provided online lessons with relevant and direct information. All the documents used for teaching have been collected on Google Classroom for later dates so I can review again if I get lost and clear open communication with tutors through emails assists with achieving goals.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Achieving a HND will improve my overall knowledge of mechanical systems which are used commonly around site. Vibrations, fluid flows, pipework systems are all included in the qualification which are all important aspects to mechanical engineering. Understanding how these can affect systems on the plant can help with finding solutions to issues that arise.
Without the HND knowledge, it would be more difficult to organise tasks as I would have limited experience with complex systems. Having the background information from this course assists when it comes to putting it into practice on site.
Without the HND knowledge, it would be more difficult to organise tasks as I would have limited experience with complex systems. Having the background information from this course assists when it comes to putting it into practice on site.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Due to the pandemic, many of these have been postponed. Typically, there are many activities, including the Magnet Monthly Social, sporting events, community days in Port Talbot. There are also opportunities for people to gather from different departments and network on varying issues in training events and conferences. As TATA is a worldwide company, there are also opportunities for people to communicate with a variety of cultures and backgrounds.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Tata Steel to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is clear that TATA respects its employees and is willing to provide clear and relevant training to anyone. With such a wide variety of job roles, there is always something new to learn. A fair pay rate and good holiday management provides a relatively flexible work/life balance. I have never felt that people expect me to be able to do something which I have not been adequately training for, and by doing this, will provide me with the relevant knowledge wherever possible. I always feel like I am learning something during my time with TATA.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Tata Steel?
Show what you are capable of. Having an interest in your discipline will provide you with opportunities to learn more. Show that you are self-sufficient, able to take on challenges but seek assistance from others when required. Being open to working as part of a team is a necessity as there is so much that cannot be completed by one person. Working with and helping others can go along way in progressing your career, so show that you can play an important part in a complex team of people.
