Junior Quality Engineer Review
at Balfour Beatty
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Review Submitted: March 2022
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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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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
Site Based None-Destructive Testing of Steels, Office based Records analysis and Quality assurance combined with supply chain control and checking of goods inbound. The role is eye-opening in that I have been able to witness delivery at the work face, in the supply chain and at the office.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I particularly enjoy learning about materials, assemblies and plant items I have seen for years but never properly understood. For instance the bending moment for a section on a crane during lifting where Gravity will act (8.1 m/s^2) upon the mass (kg) to give a force (Newtons).
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I learned numerous new skills and developed those I already possessed. Prior to my apprenticeship I worked at BB for 2 years as a Facilities Manager. I watched delivery of our projects from afar and became intrigued. My apprenticeship taught me a phenomenal amount about those works.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
My program was particularly well structured, At each stage there was an academic degree/HND combined with a site based NVQ4. This combination ensured an understanding of the relevant sciences but also thorough use of the relevant site based tools and time watching or talking with the best tradespeople.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I received a lot of help from numerous Mentors, My line manager conducted numerous reviews to ascertain if help was needed in any particular field, The site based Inspectors and Welders supported me well in sparing time to demonstrate proper site delivery and answer all my questions. They were Excellent!
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My training provider (Gen2 Lillyhall) delegated me an assessor who'm visited our place of works often and always explained the learning portal I used in great detail. The assessor also maid every effort to be available when I was completing particular works which were relevant to my accreditation. Brilliant!
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The NVQ4 provided by Gen2 has enabled me to become an Accredited Construction Site Manager (CSCS Black). The HND In Mechanical Engineering I studied at Energus ((also Gen2) is something I rely on every day when assessing design or the forces acting at a point in any assembly, They're Brilliant!
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
There are numerous such activities, Fell walking, Fund Raising, Football Competitions and works nights out. our Apprentice scheme holds fortnightly meetings for apprentices at our location where many such activities are planned. Nationwide BB arranges challenges such as Brathay Which culminate with awards. I'm Apprentice of the year 2021!
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Balfour Beatty to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Because, I joined Balfour Beatty as an Admin Assistant with Level 3 IT and Business. Now I'm an accredited Construction Manager with a degree in Engineering Science. I wasn't just trained academically, I was taught by world class tradespeople how to recognize the most vital aspects of our work.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Balfour Beatty?
Put your best foot forward and work hard. Balfour Beatty is the kind of company where hard effort and dedication are recognized then rewarded. There is a specific interest within the business in training and utilizing of apprentices. If you prove yourself via an apprenticeship then you will be respected.
