Degree Apprentice Mechanical Engineer Review
at Solenis
Degree Apprenticeship
Mechanical Engineering
Bradford
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
4.7 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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:
5/5
My role at Solenis is Degree Apprentice Mechanical Engineer. This involves working with senior engineers to develop and implement engineering improvement projects to the plant. Alongside gaining industry experience at Solenis, I am also working towards a degree in Science Industry Plant and Process Engineering at Aston University.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
Up to this point, I have really enjoyed the balance of on-the-job industry experience and university learning. I have found that every day has something new for me to expand on my knowledge and professional development.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Absolutely. Since the start of my Mechanical Engineering Degree Apprenticeship, I have gained a wide range of both hard and soft skills. Solenis has played a key role in my development, by providing opportunities to engage in varied engineering tasks and project environments.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The degree apprenticeship contains regular blocks of university on-campus weeks. Solenis have supported me excellently in facilitating my success on the university programme. Furthermore, I am happy to have been structurally placed in a working environment where I am surrounded by senior mechanical engineers who have been extremely helpful in supporting my continuous professional engineering development.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
At Solenis, I have an apprenticeship co-ordinator who ensured I was settled in when I first joined by supporting me with regular review meetings and resolving any issues I had encountered. Within my mechanical engineering team, I have mentors who have inspired me as role models and have helped me with my work. I also have a line manager who I can go to for additional support.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
My Aston University professors and skills coach have helped me work towards achieving module outcomes and meet apprenticeship standards. Once every three months, I have tripartite reviews between myself, my training provider and my workplace to track and support my development on the programme.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
My degree programme has a large inclination towards plant and process engineering, which is very useful in the chemical industry. My course contains many multi-disciplinary modules that will allow me to understand many different engineering processes and ideas on my chemical plant.
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
Recently, I enjoyed being a part of the 5-a-side football charity event for Mind with others at my workplace. Solenis also has many volunteering opportunities which involve helping out in the local community.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Solenis to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Solenis is an expanding, global leader in the chemical manufacturing industry with growing opportunities for people interested in STEM careers. I have noticed that Solenis is a team full of industry experience and everyone is eager to transfer this invaluable knowledge onto the next generation of engineers.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Solenis?
My tip is to make sure you are aware of what Solenis do and how their work ties in with your career goals. If you have a passion for solving problems and improving systems using engineering solutions, Solenis is the workplace for you!
