Level 3 Apprentice Technician Review
at BAE Systems
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Warton, Lancashire
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!
3.5/5
-
Overview of Role
2/5
-
Skills Development
2.2/5
-
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
Working in the business 4 days a week on various placements gaining direct working experience of the industry.
1 day a week in the in house college.
Responsibilities can vary depending on the placement currently on.
1 day a week in the in house college.
Responsibilities can vary depending on the placement currently on.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
There are enjoyable parts and many roles are completely unique. However the mis management of some internal structures related to early careers means that you don't always have a chance to invest yourself in the areas of the company you would like.
The scheme is enjoyable but has been better.
The scheme is enjoyable but has been better.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
I have developed new skills and gained new insights and experiences. However at this very moment, they are not very well tailored to engineering as a whole or what i as a learner want to become proficient in.
At the moment there is very little freedom to actually develop/curate the skills you want and its often left up to chance.
Those in charge of deciding on placements you will go on (and in turn what skills you learn) have very little actual knowledge of how the company functions or what each team/placement does, meaning some placements wont always be great in developing your engineering knowledge with some placements not fully knowing how to help you as a learner develop.
The Opportunities are there but you have to go out of your way to find them.
The choice to pick what skills you develop and specialise in has been completely stripped from apprentices, meaning what skills you learn are up to complete random chance with you as an apprentice having no agency over this.
At the moment there is very little freedom to actually develop/curate the skills you want and its often left up to chance.
Those in charge of deciding on placements you will go on (and in turn what skills you learn) have very little actual knowledge of how the company functions or what each team/placement does, meaning some placements wont always be great in developing your engineering knowledge with some placements not fully knowing how to help you as a learner develop.
The Opportunities are there but you have to go out of your way to find them.
The choice to pick what skills you develop and specialise in has been completely stripped from apprentices, meaning what skills you learn are up to complete random chance with you as an apprentice having no agency over this.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Poor, Early Careers are disconnected from the ongoings within the business and themselves.
They don't communicate well between themselves, resulting in a lot of overlapping functions and unclear responsibilities.
Other than the general overall path the apprenticeship will take being readily defined it seems each year details are constantly changing, making it hard for anyone including coaches and those in early careers to be confident in different processes.
Changes and processes are often not very well communicated to learners or skills coaches causing difficulty in planning for the future.
Many in my scheme feel we are often forgotten about by the company and early careers with issues that have been going on for years still not being fixed.
They don't communicate well between themselves, resulting in a lot of overlapping functions and unclear responsibilities.
Other than the general overall path the apprenticeship will take being readily defined it seems each year details are constantly changing, making it hard for anyone including coaches and those in early careers to be confident in different processes.
Changes and processes are often not very well communicated to learners or skills coaches causing difficulty in planning for the future.
Many in my scheme feel we are often forgotten about by the company and early careers with issues that have been going on for years still not being fixed.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
1/5
Limited support, skills coaches are very good in helping and giving support and are a good first port of call for apprentices.
However from the wider early careers I find we receive very little support and are often left to our own devices, with skills coaches often not being given critical information or not being kept up to date on internal ongoings.
Voicing complaints or raising issues is often heard but rarely taken into consideration by those who are suppose to be responsible, with issues brought up by apprentices commonly dismissed if they relate to the lack of support or lack of apprentice agency.
However from the wider early careers I find we receive very little support and are often left to our own devices, with skills coaches often not being given critical information or not being kept up to date on internal ongoings.
Voicing complaints or raising issues is often heard but rarely taken into consideration by those who are suppose to be responsible, with issues brought up by apprentices commonly dismissed if they relate to the lack of support or lack of apprentice agency.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
There is a clear criteria and process to meeting criteria that is easy to track, skills coaches will constantly work with you to help and make sure that you are making progress and meet the milestones required in the apprenticeship.
The in-house college however, is often stretched thin with only lecturers being able to give support.
Placements can vary massively. However, many tend towards simple admin office roles with little in the way of engineering being taught. As an apprentice you have no say in what placement you will be given, often leaving the type of training you're given to chance.
The in-house college however, is often stretched thin with only lecturers being able to give support.
Placements can vary massively. However, many tend towards simple admin office roles with little in the way of engineering being taught. As an apprentice you have no say in what placement you will be given, often leaving the type of training you're given to chance.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Gives me an understanding of the industry and a chance to learn a range of functions.
However, there is very little guidance on what a technician role even is.
Those in charge of where/what we learn, know next to nothing about the company or teams within, meaning alot of what is learnt does not relate to our qualifications or what we as apprentices would like to specialise in.
However, there is very little guidance on what a technician role even is.
Those in charge of where/what we learn, know next to nothing about the company or teams within, meaning alot of what is learnt does not relate to our qualifications or what we as apprentices would like to specialise in.
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 opportunities to volunteer in supporting events along with becoming a STEM ambassador.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend the company, as working with the different teams is often interesting with the culture here being friendly with many jobs here being good.
I would not recommend the level 3 Technician scheme specifically, in its current state it is terribly mismanaged and is very misleading when it comes to what type of work you will be doing.
Only if you are happy working in an office block and leaving your exit role and qualifications up to chance would I recommend becoming a technician.
I would not recommend the level 3 Technician scheme specifically, in its current state it is terribly mismanaged and is very misleading when it comes to what type of work you will be doing.
Only if you are happy working in an office block and leaving your exit role and qualifications up to chance would I recommend becoming a technician.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Be genuine. Understand what you want to gain out of it and show that you want to be there and learn.
Being professional and motivated goes a long way in the business.
Being professional and motivated goes a long way in the business.
Graduate Aerospace Integration Engineer
at BAE Systems
- Graduate Scheme
- Prestwick, Ayrshire and Arran
-
4.5
