Development Apprentice Review
at Coesia Cerulean
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Mechanical Engineering
Milton Keynes
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.3 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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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
CAD design - modelling and drawings
Prototype builds
Paperwork e.g. purchase orders, quotation requests, etc
Brainstorm meeting to discuss solutions for design problems
Communication within my department and across departments
Prototype builds
Paperwork e.g. purchase orders, quotation requests, etc
Brainstorm meeting to discuss solutions for design problems
Communication within my department and across departments
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
Before I started working for Cerulean I knew that engineering might be for me. Now that I have been working for nearly 2 years and attending college I am 100% sure that mechanical design is what I want to do. I come to work excited every day because of my enjoyment for the job and my interest in what I learn at college. I enjoy the range of topics that I am learning about and the responsibilities I am given at work. Everyone is also really friendly which creates an enjoyable environment to work in.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Before Cerulean I had no previous experience in an engineering role. I am now given responsibilities that are covered by a fully qualified engineer. Because of this I am able to develop my skills as an engineer. Over time I have seen my progress from coming into the company knowing hardly anything to now where I am applying skills that I have learnt throughout my apprenticeship into my role. I am given a range of responsibilities that cover a range of skills that I am improving on. I am also able to develop existing skills such as teamwork and resilience in a working environment. I am given the freedom but also the support to develop and am surrounding by colleagues who are always willing to help me learn.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Although I have set lessons at college, I do not always have a set programme at work. We have meetings to discuss our progress for the week and to structure our work load. However, sometimes I will come to work and not know what I will be doing for the day. Although this structure is not always there, I think there is good balance between structure and freedom. Because of situations, such as lack of assistance on a project, my day often takes a turn. Because of this, I have become adaptable to change and am able to handle the pressure. I also feel like I have learnt more through my apprenticeship by not having a structured programme because it means that I have been given a range of tasks including those that do not involve my job role. This has given me the opportunity to not only learn a range of skills in my own job role but also better understand my colleagues which I think had improved my communication skills.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My manager is my main contact for support. This applies to both college related work and to work itself. If I am struggling with college work he will take time to support me even if it does not relate to my job role. He had also made sure to allow time in my colleague's schedules to allow them to help me with college work. Furthermore, if I need help with anything work related then he will make sure to give me the support I need or point me to the right person. I often find that people are sometimes too busy to support me but they will make sure that they come and see me when they get a minute. On top of providing the support I need, I am also given the independence to complete tasks on my own. There is a good balance of support and independence.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I receive a lot of support from my teachers when needed. They are quick to answer any messages I send them and are happy to help during class if I am stuck with something. However, the college is also very unorganised which makes it hard to get support for matters that don't relate to current class work. I am quite often left in the dark with what I need to be doing and what classes I need to be in.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Although college provides me with theory that helps me better understand my role, I feel that I learn more from first hand experience at work. Nevertheless, I feel like learning the fundamentals of engineering has helped me think about what theory I need to be applying in my role. I have also learnt hands on skills that have been helpful when building prototypes. I feel like college is also helpful as I am able to understand how my role impacts other areas. For example, doing machining workshop has allowed me to understand how parts are made so that I can apply this to drawings I will send out to suppliers. I feel like there is a cross between the two (work and college) - work helps with college and also vice versa.
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 is a social club that I am involved in which involves activities that you can both do with your family and friends and also people from work. I also often have the opportunity to attend engineering shows which are interesting and helpful to me.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Coesia Cerulean to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Cerulean is a great place to work if you want to gain experience and learn. Everybody that works for Cerulean is friendly and passionate about what they do. They are open to sharing knowledge and take any opportunity they can to help you learn. I have especially found this in engineering as everyone here enjoys their job and are keen to do their job well. We have a wide range of projects and are expanding our industry into new areas. It is a good time to join Cerulean as there are lots of exciting opportunities coming up.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Coesia Cerulean?
The main thing that I think Cerulean look for is someone that is keen to learn. I started here with no experience in engineering but have worked hard to learn as much as I can and continue to develop in my role. They are very open to teach people and support you in your journey as an apprentice. It is important to not let fear that you are not experienced enough stop you from applying. It can sometimes be intimidating to be working with people who are so skilled in what they do but Cerulean is a company full of friendly people where no idea is a bad idea. People here understand that you are still learning and do not hold it against you. From my experience as a woman in engineer, I found it quite intimidating that I would be working with a lot of men as it is a male dominated industry. However, I would not let this put you off as you are able to learn just as well in this environment amongst people who are willing to help you and are good at what they do.
