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Mechanical Machinst Review

at BAE Systems

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Manufacturing

Barrow-in-Furness

Review Submitted: March 2025

Overall Rating

2.2 /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 - Skills Development
1.2/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I'm a mechanical machinst i work with cnc 5 axis lathes. i personally run a doosan puma- typically i come in and are working on a variety of parts that are used either In the construction of the nuclear submarine or in aid of the construction of the submarine.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
its okay however the training provider is not very enjoyable and we tend not to learn very much from the visits there.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
yes. ive leanrt how to program,operate and run a 5 axis CNC millTurn.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
bit chaotic at times, ive been told im moving workshop, but they wont tell me wehn its now been a month. and because i was meant to be moving workshop my linemanager never put me on a course that would of aided my learning.
as well as this most of the machinist apprentices are told different things. for example, some have been told that we will be doing our epa on manual machines yet others have been told its on whatever machine they currently operate, and ive been told i can do it on a cnc.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
Plenty and none at the same time.
they give plenty of support on some jobs but then other things your expected to know it. or dont get the praise when your wizzing out jobs in a morning yet other apprentices havent even starte3d for the day.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
none. we attend the lessons and thats about as much support as we get.
lesson 1- CNC Programming- tutor doesnt know what hges teching so cant tach us- as well as constantly complaining about the facilities at college rather than just accepting its not the best and making it work.
Lesson 2- Cnc Programming Again.
Lesson 3- continuos buisness improvement- we have to write a 15 page report on a single business improvement idea, yet this is unrealistic. we would never make a 15 page report to identify every single different waste management system and how to implement it. and then the tutor springs a change on us right near the end that now means most of us have to redo the whole introduction, and weve now also got to deliver a presentation on this idea as well. which is alot of pressure when we arent taught any of it we are expected to research and understand everything ourselves.
lesson 4- cnc set ups- the tutor comes in and we dont even start for half an hour and then when he is teaching us he has no idea what hes doing agaiin, and explains everything in the most long winded way possible, so not only is the class confused but they dont take any of the information in.
lesson 5 - i dont even know what the lesson is called. there is that much information thrown at us. and again there isnt much lkearning happening it is more us sat researching or making our own revision questions at the same time we are researching what it is.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
doesnt afect my role. i attend college as i need the qualification to pass the apprenticeship - however if i was just attending the college for my own education(not an apprenticeship) i would of quit after the 2nd week.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
Not many for apprentices.
there was a few when i started but they faded away.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
i would reccomend BAE to all my mates. as it is a company for life. the shares are nice and the pension. as well as the working environment is fairly relaxed.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Just go there and dont stress, the interviews dont need to be terrifying just smile be happy and chilled. the more stressed you get the worse the interview will go.
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