Higher supply chain apprenticeship Review
at BAE Systems
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Purchasing and Supply
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
2.8 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
2.2/5
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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:
3/5
As a supply chain higher apprentice it is within my scheme to rotate placements every 6 months. Each placement is in a different part of the business and often involves a different experience/ work role within the supply chain capability.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
The programme itself offers many different opportunities and experiences that a core job role does not offer making the programme enjoyable. STRETCH opportunities are brilliant for making your day to day, week to week a good mix of piratical and office work. The function support was brilliant to start with and has dropped off abit within my second year therefore in this second year it hasnt been as enjoyable with the lack of support and communication.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
During my time on the scheme i have adapted many of my skills, knowledge and behaviours. For example Develops people, Integrity, team working, organisation, function skills, work document knowledge e.g power point presentations, word, excel reporting and the use of special tech systems.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
my 1st year was brilliantly organised and structured to meet our needs ( KSBs) as well as personal and qualification needs and requirements. In the second year this has fell apart abit in the communication side. we were asked what we need to tick off / experience and then the complete opposite was given/ communicated to us so we do not feel we are been listened to.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
Across early careers we receive a lot of support and always feel welcome to contact if we need any support. the regular meetings and communication is good from earl careers. As for the support from the particular function of the apprenticeship ( supply chain ) the communication and support is lacking.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
This is very varied. CIPS can be either really good or really bad. to start with the support and communication wasn't great but as i started to fail all exams the support after i continuously asked for it was given for a small period of time but then has now stopped as such and i had to beg for more help and support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
This is very varied again. CIPS covers a large amount of content some very relevant some not so much. Some of the content that is e relevant can be quite bulky and confusion and for this not to be relevant is quite hard to pass the exam.
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
Loads of opportunities to get involved in a variety of things particularly good for net working. The commutation from this is a hit and miss- early careers really good at letting us know - the functional lead wast as much until we pushed for more function relevant project awareness.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Dispute problems/ teething issues with the function and there commitment to the apprentice scheme overall BAE systems is a good community to be a part of with endless opportunities and experiences across the business and word wide. The paths that can unfold are amazing
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Apply apply apply! never give up trying to get in but always make sure what you are applying for you are genuinely interested in learning about and practising. Presenting is not as scary as it seems and BAE offers many different opportunities you just have to ask as someone will always know someone else and so on that will get you the answer/ experience / opportunity.
