Software Engineering Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Warton, Lancashire
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.6/5
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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 spend 3 days a week in a placement team which rotates on a 6-monthly basis where I am given hands-on experience completing work which contributes to active projects within the business. I am given one day a week of onsite learning for university as well as half a day for university studies and half a day for portfolio work.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy being able to work on important work within placement teams whilst also having an opportunity to learn onsite on the university campus every week as well as an additional day to complete studies and portfolio work. The work I complete is important to the programs of the business and gives me a sense of responsibility without the expectation that I have to complete the work to the standard of a fully qualified software engineer.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Through the work in placements, I have learned many different technical skills by using different programming languages and toolsets as well as completing work in different stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). I have also been able to develop my soft skills such as teamworking, collaboration and presentation skills by working in different teams who operate in different ways and through different project methodologies. My academic studies have developed my technical skills in many different areas through the learning of different modules that I have been able to directly apply to my work on placement.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The EDAS Software Engineering Apprenticeship in BAE Systems is tried and tested, with my cohort being the 10th cohort to undertake this program. The placement teams are all well equipped to handle the training needs of apprentices to help them develop as quickly as possible.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The dedicated Early Careers team is extensive and always on hand to provide support which is most commonly conducted in the form of quarterly reviews and apprentice forums. We have access to staff who specialise in the support of apprentices on our specific scheme and our specific cohort as well as staff who cover wider areas such as the whole of software capability and wider.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The training provider has newly changed and is open to feedback regarding the structure of the program which has been adapted through the feedback of the current cohorts. They also provide apprentices with access to their extensive support network and digital tools that can be accessed throughout the duration of the apprenticeship.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The qualification is tailored to software engineering in an aerospace environment and assignment scenarios are made to be realistic and related to work done in placement. The modules provide learning about key concepts of the job role however, these could be more appropriately arranged throughout the duration of the program to better reflect the learning progression of the apprentice.
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 many opportunities for apprentices to attend events such as professional networking or conferences and we are encouraged to become STEM ambassadors which allows us to attend and organise events to promote STEM subjects. There are not many opportunities regarding sporting or social activities but these are normally organised by the apprentices outside of work.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The apprenticeship scheme is a great way to obtain a degree or qualification while gaining hands-on experience with important and meaningful work. The apprenticeship scheme at BAE Systems is very well structured and allows for quick and exciting progression.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Ensure you have a degree of passion or interest in the area you wish to study in. If you put all your effort into the apprenticeship scheme, you will get a lot of opportunities and learning out of it.
