Level 4 manufacturing engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Manufacturing
Blackburn, UK
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.1 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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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
Day to day activities vary based on placements, however most placements have a similar job role. The core task are assisting the shop floor workers in resolving problems using continuous improvement techniques or using engineering based software to find ways to work around it. Some jobs also include design experience and CAD. Other placements are involved with more development activities to find new ways to manufacture.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I do quite enjoy most of the programme. The work and training given are really useful and the support given to complete college and competency work is amazing. however as an apprentice when moving every 4 months can be difficult as you just adapt to a placement and have to move again. Most placements tend to provide smaller tasks or 'boring' tasks as they don't think you'll be able grasp the work or have enough time to complete it.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt a lot of skills that i can use in engineering. A lot of training is given to help understand the terms and terminology for an engineering business. I can use CATIA which is a design based software to adapt change and view 3d models. I have learnt how to assess evaluate and create test reports which would be used to validate new technology.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
With the amount of apprentices in the company the early carers team do seem overloaded. There is quite often a lot of miss information with start and end dates or clear communication on where it is possible for apprentices to go. The programme I undertake in isn't structured the best however with it being a 4 year long course with only one year for the college aspect and one for the training school. The next two years is only placements and constant moving around with no option to progress to a degree or further education until completion of the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Bae systems do provide a lot off support for apprentices in forms of constant communication and organising meetings with senior employees or previous apprentices. Support is available in every form and the early careers team do help in what way they can and provide links and contact information for any problem.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
the first two years of the apprenticeship are the main training years with the first being the training school where you learn to work with carbon fibre, machining (cnc and manual), fitting and even aircraft safety. The second two years would be training and learning on the job with less college and more practical hands on learning.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
To prove our competency to the job we have to complete write ups and knowledge questions. The write ups are very long winded and could get up to 6-7000 words long. this is a essentially a recap of the work you have completed yourself. By recapping what you have done and generating a report it can help but is also very long especially when working full time. Knowledge questions are just answering question based on engineering. However a lot of these are repetitive.
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
Yes in many teams there tends to be groups that go badminton, running or football. as apprentices when moving to these team we do get the chance to join them. The local apprentice council do also help set up networking events for us apprentices to meet senior engineers or get into contact with those people.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
its a nice place to work. a lot of people are friendly and you can build good friendships. the teams you move to are fun and can make coming to work enjoyable. The pa as an apprentice may not be the best but it is nice on completion. Flexi time can also allow flexible working starting and end times and also extra holidays can be taken
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
for interviews research all you can on BAE Systems. Find out what you can on the core values and possible projects. link these values to your own life and provide examples. it is not all about your grades if your enthusiastic and have a good idea about why you want to do this job then show it. Everyone is passionate about something, use that and apply the same enthusiasm to joining BAE Systems
