Craft Apprentice Review
at AWE
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Aldermaston
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
3.4 /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
5/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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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 split between training off site and industry experience. The first six months are purely off site training, and then it is month on month off until the end of delivery.
Day to day depends on department but it varies from in office admin to across site practical maintenance.
Day to day depends on department but it varies from in office admin to across site practical maintenance.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
There have many ups and downs, inconsistencies, and miscommunication. The training provider and employer did not communicate well to each other, leaving apprentices to be an unwilling, and confused, middle man.
On site placements also vary from involved and supportive to distant with not much assistance in gaining evidence. My placement was involved, supportive, and able to be a source of evidence.
On site placements also vary from involved and supportive to distant with not much assistance in gaining evidence. My placement was involved, supportive, and able to be a source of evidence.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Everything I know about engineering, especially practically, has come from this course. I have learned how to operate tools (e.g. hacksaw, file) and machines (e.g. pillar drill, lathe, milling machine) manually. I have learned how to obtain and interpret technical drawings. I have learned how to install electrical wire inside of trunking and how to build circuits in electronics.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The constant miscommunication between the training provider to us/our employer seemed never ending. What units were being delivered, when, how they were being assessed, if we had even passed the units - all subject to change every time we asked.
Our training provider was particularly poor with confirming information and feeding back the correct and relevant information. Several times we chased for an exam we believed we had sat and passed months to a year ago and several times they came back with a different answer. The exam wasn't sat. The exam was missing. The exam was found but it was the wrong subject. Until it was finally determined the exam was sat but it was actually a mock. This wasn't caught until months after that trainer had left.
Our training provider was particularly poor with confirming information and feeding back the correct and relevant information. Several times we chased for an exam we believed we had sat and passed months to a year ago and several times they came back with a different answer. The exam wasn't sat. The exam was missing. The exam was found but it was the wrong subject. Until it was finally determined the exam was sat but it was actually a mock. This wasn't caught until months after that trainer had left.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer, especially in my placement, is so supportive. Whether that's ensuring I get experience to gather evidence, advocating for me to gain confirmation for my progression, or just ensuring I am comfortable and accommodated in the office.
My employer at large also put my through the process to be officially diagnosed with my neurodivergence.
My employer at large also put my through the process to be officially diagnosed with my neurodivergence.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
The training provider delivered the units. They set work and invigilated written assessments. The communication problems made it less clear than it should have been and contributed to confusion on all sides. I was able to learn and pass my assessments.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
Without my qualifications I wouldn't have a steady foundation for my role. A lot of my role specifics weren't learned through my training provider and so, while it is a good starting point, my employer is the one to train me for the details.
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
Because the company is so large, there are various social groups that meet both inside and outside of the work day. I personally meet with an art group once a month and I am going to see a play with a different group next month.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AWE to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They are a big employer with a lot of internal opportunity. They are also a long term employer in which they are staying in business for the vast foreseeable, which translates to a lower risk of redundancy.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AWE?
Curiosity, willingness to learn, and internal reflection are highly important traits.
