Manufacturing Degree Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: April 2022
Overall Rating
2.9 /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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
3/5
-
Skills Development
2.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
Working in the Machine Shop to solve problems and develop systems to improve efficiency of machining
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy to day to day with the team I work with, but BAE processes can be slow and difficult to a point of demoralisation.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Time Management, Process Management, Excel, CAD, CAM, Engineering Drawings, General Engineering Knowledge
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The overall structure is well defined, but things are often left to the last minute by Early Careers. College staff turn around is incredibly high due to low wages, making for bad planning and wasted college days.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
Early Careers are generally supportive of any extra learning required and will help to provide any services needed
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Due to the high turn over off staff, college support varies drastically, with the quality of each module being down to who specifically is teaching it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
For most roles within BAE, college will be mostly unconnected as you will learn anything you need to be able to do via your team
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
There are lots of activities organised by people within the company to get involved with alongside things like STEM Ambassadors and opportunities to go to events with your team.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Even with the many downsides to working there, the degree is paid for with no strings attached (you could choose to leave at any time and owe them nothing) and its a good company to have on your CV when you leave.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Expect the bureaucracy of the company along with security processes to make things go incredibly slowly at times, but there is little pressure as an apprentice the vast majority of the time.
