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Higherin

Engineering Technician Review

at BAE Systems

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering

Preston

Review Submitted: May 2024

Overall Rating

3.1 /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
4/5 - Skills Development
2.6/5 - 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
Placements day to day after first year, plus time for college/HNC and level 3 NVQ
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoy the apprenticeship and learning about aircraft and working on aircraft, however the scheme could be managed better and given more resources.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes I am much better at organisation and planning

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
I enjoyed most placements, but struggled to be moved out of placements that were not benefitting me and I was made aware of placements at the very last minute, sometimes the day before I was due to move. College/HNC is very poorly organised as they arent given resources required by upper early careers, which puts a huge strain on the apprenticeship and stops a lot of the enjoyment. Level 3 NVQ is similar but slightly better managed, although I was left without guidance for 12 months+ which has made the qualification more stressful than needed to be especially for someone with special educational needs.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
Personally, I receive minimal support for SEN, there needs to be more training for skills coaches etc on how to manage these issues, as engineering heavily attracts a neurodivergent population. However the safeguarding team have really helped me during the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Nowhere near enough. We didnt get job pack guidance or anything marked for level 3 for over 12 months which was over a 3rd of the time we get to complete. This made it very stressful and meant I could not give my best efforts. Also I feel as though 4 hours a week is not enough and we mostly arent given the 4 hours as it is by placement managers
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
HNC in Aero Engineering is the only useful qualification we have done towards this role. Level 3 is mostly repeated stuff that is irrelevant and mostly just unnecessarily time consuming due to the volume and type of evidence required. Level 2 set foundations but not really relevant to any of the roles I have done in the business
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
Yes but everything else is so overwhelming that I can never make it as I struggle to find time and mental capacity.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Flexi time and hybrid working, company incentives
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Research the company before applying/interviewing. Be yourself and don't expect to be an expert, just show willingness to learn and ask plenty of questions.
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