Machinist Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Barrow-in-Furness
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
2.5 /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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
2/5
-
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
Full time college based doing lessons like maths, engineering communication, cad and workshop learning
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
The whole organisation from the college and BAE hasn't been great as there is a severe lack of information on when progression happens, what the money is going to be and holidays. Additionally much of the college experience has been lackluster as some of the tutors and leads of engineering specifically do not seem to organise lessons so you frequently have nothing to do
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learned how to operate a lathe and what various engineering terms mean
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
Terribly organised
My trade doesn't even know when I'm leaving college or what it's going to look like, we are frequently told everything's in discussion still which doesn't help considering it's weeks if not months away
My trade doesn't even know when I'm leaving college or what it's going to look like, we are frequently told everything's in discussion still which doesn't help considering it's weeks if not months away
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
Some of the managers have been withholding information such as pay progression, day to day of role and how holidays will work as nobody was informed of this at the start - it was all incredibly vague and had to be chased constantly to get an answer
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Tutors are great but I don't actually know what I need for my qualification as there's no overview
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I know roughly what I'm doing but I feel like I'm going to have to learn most of everything when I start the job
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
No they don't really want us to do work nights out or trips unless it's outward bound or to site
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend trying to get a job at bae systems but I would like to see serious change as the college are incredibly unequipped to teach workshop based roles as the machinery and tools are poorly maintained at best
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Do it but don't expect much until you are in the business and get used to doing nothing
Graduate Aerospace Integration Engineer
at BAE Systems
- Graduate Scheme
- Prestwick, Ayrshire and Arran
-
4.5
