NDT Engineer Degree Apprentice Review
at Rolls-Royce
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Derby
Review Submitted: February 2023
Overall Rating
3.6 /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
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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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:
4/5
Carrying out Non-Destructive inspection on parts that move through the factory.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The programme provides an intellectual challenge to learn the various NDT methods both practically - while actually working in placements - and theoretically - to pass the exams and gain qualifications. This makes the job exciting and engaging, and I enjoy the hard work.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Before the apprenticeship began I was unfamiliar with most NDT techniques, and those I had heard of I knew little about. Now that I have around 5 months experience, I am competent at carrying out inspections of most parts and determining if they will pass or fail.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
We move through areas of the business through work placements, accruing hours in our chosen NDT methods. At various points during this time, we go to the South West School of NDT to partake in training courses to learn the theory behind this methods, after which we gain qualification.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
There are plenty of information resources available, and it has been made clear who we can ask for help if we need support during the course.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
From my experience so far, the contacts we have been given are not the most reliable at resolving issue we have encountered. I find it is far more efficient to contact lecturers directly about queries rather than going through the intended contacts.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
In the environment I am currently working in, the NDT Degree is not very useful. PCN's and practical skills are far more valuable. However, the goal is for us to become L3 technicians, and at this point the theoretical knowledge from the degree will become more useful to us.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
While I have not yet taken part in any, I am aware that such activities do exist, and may choose to get involved in the future.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Rolls-Royce to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Coming into a business that is already well established means that the structure of the course you are on will generally be pretty solid, and getting into a company like Rolls-Royce carries a lot of prestigious value, in that people generally have a high opinion of Rolls-Royce personnel and products.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Rolls-Royce?
Confidence is more powerful than knowledge. When I was going through the interview process for my course, I worried that I didn't know enough about NDT or the company, and while I would recommend doing your research, as long as you seem confident, you'll probably be okay.
