Engineering Operative Review
at AWE
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Tadley
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
3.8 /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
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3.4/5
-
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
The role is split between on site work and off site training. Work involves getting to know the company and expanding on various skills specific to the company. Training consists of a mix of theoretical and practical - covering the health and safety before getting to know machines.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the programme and greatly value the experience and skills I am gaining.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Maintaining and operating machines, gathering/recording/handling data, dealing with different regulations, and using specific software and data bases.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
There are times where expectations are mismatched between the training provider and the employer. Communication seems to be the biggest mismatch - even within each internally. That's largely chalked up to the size of both organisations and improvements are strived for but change is slow and frustrations arise.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer has been very supportive - particularly in sponsoring my neurodivergence diagnosis. My manager in particular is excellent and always makes time for me out of his busy schedule.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
There is inconsistency with support - the trainers are overall very supportive though there have been issues with some of the course delivery as well as issues around exams (not being told an exam would be open note until just before the exam is due to start for example).
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
My qualification allows for a solid foundation upon which to build and eventually specialise. It gives me a massive boost and helps get my bearing in a world very outside my previous experience.
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
My work does various things that are sponsored through them but they don't work with my schedule/catch my interest.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AWE to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The opportunities for career growth are almost unlimited and unlike most of the comparable private fields the two biggest worries for modern workers (e.g. automation and lay offs) are not applicable here.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AWE?
Know what is expected of you when you sign up and uphold those expectations. Understand that, for most new employees, you are kind of starting at square one and that it will take time to get where you want to go due to the needed training. Hard work and drive are recognised and rewarded so even efforts in the early period are not overlooked.
