Assistant Technician Review
at Arup
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.8/5
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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:
5/5
A typical day would see me working on a project which could include deliverables such as designing 3D models, creating 2D drawings for manufacture and installation, substantiating designs through calculations making sure to comply with relevant standards. There may also be project meetings with key stakeholders to check progress against deliverables.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I did enjoy the programme, it was hard to be working and completing college work alongside it. So you'd be working to project deadlines 4 days per week and then in college 1 day per week and then going home and writing up assignments or preparing for exams but thankfully my colleagues were great and really supported me through it.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've developed skills in 3D modelling, particularly using Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Plant3D. I have also learned how to properly substantiate designs using a combination of written calculations and Finite Element Analysis. My communication skills have also improved as you have to present designs at periodic reviews to the stakeholders and explain how your design has met their requirements.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
I found the programme to be well structured, the 20% college / apprenticeship time helped me to make sure I was spending enough time on my work to ensure that I would be able to pass through my End Point Assessment. With the higher level qualifications, you do need to do more work to organise yourself and maintain the work / life balance.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I received fantastic support from my employer, they always tried to make sure that projects were resourced so that I wouldn't feel stressed about deadlines when I was out for one day per week as that time can really add up. And they regularly checked in to make sure that I was managing everything okay.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My training provider was really supportive, they made sure that I understood all of the requirements which helped me to break down my time and ensure that I had enough time to reasonably complete all of my assignments and study for my exams. They also offered mock End Point Assessments for the apprenticeship which was really helpful.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification helped me to perform better in my role as I was actively learning new information and skills which I could then apply to projects that I was working on. The apprenticeship qualification has also enabled me to learn how to write reports for EngTech, IEng and CEng registration.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
At work, there are social events which you can get involved with planning from small meals out to office wide Christmas parties. Arup also have a "World Cup" where offices can submit a team and they all travel to the host office and take part in a weekend tournament which is great for networking with other offices. There is also the opportunity to be a STEM ambassador too.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Arup to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Arup is a great place to work as the work is varied, they have a strong focus on teams which is helped by the social events that they fund, and they have fantastic training opportunities available internally to help develop skills and if you have seen an external course that you'd like to attend then you can put it forward to your manager.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Arup?
I would advise that the sky's the limit. Arup are very committed to personal development so if anyone has the drive to keep on learning and growing with a company then Arup would be absolutely perfect for them as there are so many opportunities and different offices and such a wealth of knowledge and experience.
