Air Maintenance Technician Review
at BAE Systems
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Kirmington
Review Submitted: March 2022
Overall Rating
3.4 /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
-
Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3/5
-
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
We do about a 70% theoretical phase and 30% practical. On theory we usually arrive at the AMA and then head up to a classroom and get taught theory. If we are on practical we get changed into our PPE and head into workshop to work on our hand skills or onto the hangar floor to work on the aircraft.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
For the most part I do enjoy this course. Most the instructors are really good and are always happy to help with huge amounts of knowledge. I enjoyed the practical phases in workshop and the hangar. Admittedly there have been some messing around on behalf of management, often with covid so for the most part its not their fault.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have. I had little practical hand skills when I first started here but after the weeks in the workshop I am now confident in hand skills like filing, sawing and interpreting drawings. With the theory I have learnt many new things which will help in my future job in aeronautical engineering.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
We have been messed around due to Covid which for the most part due to staff and pupil illness. But it got to the point where we'd been living with it for almost 2 years so disorganisation was a little confusing. I was also told in October I would be going up to Scotland but a month before I was meant to leave I personally found out that I was no longer going and flagged it up to management myself and they had no idea it has happened.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
From the instructors support was really good. They would be happy to go over anything you needed or show you if you were struggling on practical. Management was a little different. There was one manager that was absolutely brilliant, super helpful and was always willing to listen and help you out. Unfortunately some of the other managers were not as willing. Our cohort lead never really saw or spoke to us or checked up on us in the last 5-6 months. We all appreciate that they are busy people but we are in their care and just a check up would have been nice.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
As I've stated before, the instructors are really good. Always willing to help you out and explain anything you were not sure on. Resources were okay from management but when we arrived on base for our induction we had no contact details for the people we were meeting and no one were answering their phones
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
At the moment I do not know as I have not started working on aircraft like what my job is. But from what I have been told it does help especially the working on the aircraft we do here. The understanding of the aircraft systems also helps as you can workout problems using your knowledge.
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
That I've been told there are no extra curricular activities available for us in terms of sports or teams. I do believe there is some sort of online 'breakroom' for networking for us but I've not been told much about nor would I be particularly interested in it.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Because even after the mess around we've had this year i have thoroughly enjoyed my year here. I have made great friends and the support from the instructors has been really good. Plus we got free accommodation which really helped and the pay is good for an apprentice and I am looking forward to my next stage in the course
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Be prepared to revise hard as passing the exams first time makes life a lot easier. Go to the instructors for help as they will. Make sure you research and remember facts and the history of the company for your interview. Stay calm and have fun. You'll enjoy it in the end.
