Higher apprentice engineering technician Review
at BAE Systems
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Preston
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
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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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
The role is focused on manufacturing within BAE Systems AIR Sector, the day to day activities include everything from learning about the products BAE Systems manufactures and how they are manufactured, Engineering activities that range from design, programming, planning, project(s) depending on the team.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
The schemes are excellent, and the academia is exceptional because of the team of tutors and skills coaches supporting apprentices, the area that I feel could improve are some of the placement areas where apprentices are not always catered for, making learning more difficult.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
you are continually developing knowledge and skills during the apprenticeship, I've picked up a lot of skills through the apprenticeship around engineering and project methods & tools, If you have a particular interest, BAE Systems feeds your curiosity & inspires you to chase knowledge
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is very well structured, time is taken in the first year to develop practical skills as well the academia side of learning to help apprentices build up a good foundation, following this you are sent into business to continue learning within live production engineering.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
The early careers team are brilliant, very pro-active & supportive, I cannot offer them enough praise, the area that myself and other apprentices feel could be improved are some of the business placement areas, some placements are exceptional and very learning focussed where others don't offer many learning opportunities.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
as previously mentioned the ASK (academy for skills & knowledge) team are outstanding, they cater to different learning styles and pro-actively help apprentices through some difficult engineering subjects, the tutors and skills coaches are very experienced coming from industry and have learned the concepts themselves so understand the best way to teach and pass on their acquired knowledge, there was a high level of support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
put simply, without increasing my understanding of STEM subjects (which were taught as part of the apprenticeship), I would not be able to perform effectively within my role, engineering deals heavily with mathematical & scientific concepts - without study and skill development that were gained from attaining the qualification, any apprentice would not be suitably trained to take on production engineering challenges.
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
There are a lot of extra-curricular activities that take place during or around work, there are a lot of opportunities for professional networking, numerous open events and internal professional presentations & even conferences, there's also teams and societies that cater to a lot of interests.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Its one of the most professional organisations in the world, let alone the UK. they are amongst the best at what they do, 'engineering within the defence sector', and offer skills learning, experience & opportunities that don't exist anywhere else, a role at BAE Systems is not easy as it requires tenacity & a desire to develop yourself, though if you can truly commit to this mindset its one of the best places to work.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Show interest in the Company, maybe research who BAE Systems are and the kinds of products, customers & industries they work within, show an openness and willingness to learn, above all else just be yourself.
