Advanced Apprentice Manufacture Engineer Review
at BAE Systems
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Samlesbury
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
5 /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
5/5
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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
I am an apprentice on the Manufacturing Engineering scheme who chose Toolmaking as my role in the trade test week. This involves a segment for 8 weeks of fitting for the experience of panel assembly then 8 weeks of conventional machining on the milling machines, and currently 8 weeks of conventional turning which is an 8 week stint of using a lathe to make parts for learning and testing your skill. This role is 7:45am till 5pm Monday till Thursday. Mon, Tue and Wed are workshop (practical days) and Thursday is college day.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I love the practical aspect of the job, as it allows me to use a lot of machinery and gain a whole lot of skill and knowledge.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt a lot of skills, mainly on the machines I am using and will use when I am a qualified engineer. It has further developed my skills of reading measurements and the accuracy needed to work to tight tolerances.
The college days have furthered my knowledge in all subjects including maths and health and safety. H&S especially has been helpful in knowing the dangers of working with such machinery and how to use them safely.
The college days have furthered my knowledge in all subjects including maths and health and safety. H&S especially has been helpful in knowing the dangers of working with such machinery and how to use them safely.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The work is very well structured ensuring people have enough time to complete all assessments on time and it allows for time extensions if it was required. College can be quite heavy as a mature student but every member of staff in the FE department is there to assist in assignments etc.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The support is fantastic from all staff and support workers, you genuinely feel you are able to talk about any issues you may face at work or out of work. The workplace is very diverse, accepting and open to all walks of life and all people are made to feel comfortable and safe at work which is something that is heavily emphasised at work.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
Similar to the last point, the support from all staff is fantastic. There are things that can be done to help with work if you are struggling and your teachers will off this support constantly.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
BAE Systems create a training programme to mould you into one of their employees to work to their standard eventually. This ensures they get the very best engineers out of their apprentices. Therefore covering essential work needed for the role and teaching this in a efficient way to streamline the process. I feel this is very good and couldn't think of a better way to teach the qualification.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Although I do not partake in any of these, there are a lot of networking and careers events that are available to attend if you should wish to.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
As an apprenticeship, it is well paid for school leavers at £18,000 pa. I am a mature student and have taken a pay cut to be here, but only for the first year as second year wage for 21+ is national minimum wage at a minimum. But with the expected wage when leaving the apprenticeship and going into the business it is worth it in the long run. The work is very enjoyable and the training workshop is a great facility with fantastic tutors. Safety is paramount and you are not made to do anything which you aren't comfortable with. The shares and pension are a brilliant resource also.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Apply yourself in all aspects of the onboarding process, use your manners and give genuine interest to the work you will be doing. Not a lot of applicants get through as it is a sought after place to work due to the benefits and working hours. If you fail to get on, keep trying. I took me 3 attempts to be successful and secure an apprenticeship here and I couldn't be happier with the effort I put in to be here.
