Aerospace Machinist Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis, with my trade being a machinist. I program and operate CNC Milling Machines, there are various jobs/components which I produce which have to be made to a specific standard which I refer to an Engineering Drawing, Technical Instruction and Layout Sheet.
It is important to note that I am near the end of my apprenticeship so I am near enough running the machine on my own with no support required, if I need support then my mentor is more than helpful with me.
When I first went into the business, after leaving the training centre I would be shadowing my mentor in the placement, trying to understand how to complete the process of producing components. After being shown and getting after to do it yourself, this becomes easier to understand.

The program is structured accordingly from my experience. I can only say the way I have been treated but it has been organised correctly, the first year it is about training and building up experiences in the training centre, by completing a NVQ Level 2 diploma, so being a craft apprentice this is depending on your trade, in my case it is machining. Along with this, I studied 1 day a week to do the knowledge competency (College) then you will go on placement in the business rotating every 6 months after the first year.
There are occurrences where I have heard there have been hiccups but these things happen with a big organisation, these are rectified pretty quickly. Issues like incorrect placement for your trade, i.e. being in a fitting area when you are training to be a machinist.

So as you leave the training centre, you will be assigned an assessor (Skills Coach), who will mark the NVQ job packs and Knowledge questions, which are needed to be completed as part of my apprenticeship.
There is a 12 weekly reviews, where you sit down with them to review progress and set objectives, there is also progress reviews which are in place to keep you on track. I can honestly say my assessor was brilliant with us, he guided me through the process, helped me when i struggled. If I could give this experience higher than 10 I would do.
Then you get assigned a manager who keeps you up to date with various things, like courses, your hours and any opportunities to develop. I did not have an issues but he was attentive when I needed a question asking or help with a personal issue.

I am not really in communication with my training provider when working towards my qualification as it is all in house. I receive support from my assessor/skills coach like spoken in section 5, which I am grateful for. From the college side of things, I receive lectures from my lecturer to enable me to have the understanding of the work I am to produce for the assignments. If/when I required additional support it is always available to me.

I think throughout the apprenticeship, my confidence has grown so now that I am only a few weeks away from completing my apprenticeship, I am running the machine on my own, so this will include; setting up the job on the jig/fixture, obtaining documentation like engineering drawing, layout and/or tooling sheet, loading/producing programs on the machine, setting tooling, then executing the program, ensuring I adhere to the relevant rules and regulations. i.e. HASAWA, PPE Regulations and COSHH to name a few.
I have gained the important needed knowledge from the experienced machinists, my assessor, my manager and other personnel have helped in a way big or small throughout my apprenticeship so that I am able to perform to the best of my abilities.

Yes

As I think BAE Systems is the best company to develop my skills and knowledge, not only in engineering but they offer a range of apprenticeships for everyone. The benefits at BAE Systems are incredible as there is chance to progress further and complete a HNC or Degree, if you want to. The company will continue to help and guide you through your engineering career, even when your apprenticeship has finished. So I could not recommend this company more than enough!