M&E engineering apprentice Review
at Thames Water
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Enfield, Greater London
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
2.8 /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!
2/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
2.6/5
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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:
2/5
Assisting engineers with their day to day jobs. This can vary from mechanical, to electrical jobs but this depends on the day.
Not much really organised by managers for you to progress through your apprenticeship.
Sometimes treated more as a cleaner or to deliver items rather than an engineering apprentice.
Not much really organised by managers for you to progress through your apprenticeship.
Sometimes treated more as a cleaner or to deliver items rather than an engineering apprentice.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I am very comfortable and happy with my maintenance team that been teaching, and guiding me so far. They’re all good friendly lads. I get on well with my line manager.
The college I have been learning at is debatable, not very well organised and a lot of self learning.
The college I have been learning at is debatable, not very well organised and a lot of self learning.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I have been learning how to use machinery, such lathes, milling machines, drilling, sawing, linisher, etc. I have grown confident with various different hand tools, as well as learning how to perform basic electrical testing. I am lot more confident when communicating and building relationships with other team members around site.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Other than the engineers taking me out on jobs to teach me, there isn’t really anything in place, to help me to find and do the jobs in order to help me complete my logbooks, in order to pass the apprenticeship. However, my assessor is helpful and explains things well.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
My line manager is busy but helps me when I need it. This will include vehicles, equipment, health & safety, etc. Any complaints or problems told to managers are dealt with effectively. Improvements could definitely be made. The head of all apprentices isn’t really there, listens to apprentices problems, but nothing really changes.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
The college I attend isn’t that helpful. Some lecturers are useful and teach well, and others might as well not show up. Especially in my year 2 of college, there has been a lot of self teaching and little guidance. Still unsure what grade I received in my first year.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I’ve picked up a few skills at college that I have been able to use at my workplace. This includes machinery such lathes, drilling and milling machines. Learned the basic theory, manufacturing basic conduit and testing. More theory could be taught as an improvement, as the theory is quite basic.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
For the majority of my apprenticeship, I have been within the COVID-19 pandemic and have not be able to take part in such events. There are events arranged for apprentices, such as team building trips and exercises. During special events, such as Christmas for example, there are events arranged within teams.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Thames Water to a friend?
No
Why?
There is nothing in place for apprentices, nothing arranged. Better colleges could be chosen to teach apprentices the necessary skills and courses.
Certain promises made that aren’t fulfilled, for example still haven’t received a work laptop and I’m 3/4 through my second year. I was supposed to receive this at the start of my first year in order to complete college and assessor work. Didn’t feel like an engineering apprentice at times.
Certain promises made that aren’t fulfilled, for example still haven’t received a work laptop and I’m 3/4 through my second year. I was supposed to receive this at the start of my first year in order to complete college and assessor work. Didn’t feel like an engineering apprentice at times.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Thames Water?
Bring critical thinking and eagerness to learn to the table. There probably won’t be a day where you don’t learn something new from the engineers around you. Be humble and open to new experiences as you will exposed to a lot of new things you may find out to be out of your comfort-zone. However it is good fun within your maintenance team.
