ILS Engineer Review

Item: ILS Engineer at BAE Systems
Rating: 4.1
Author: Anonymous

at BAE Systems

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Engineering

Portsmouth

Review Submitted: April 2026

Overall Rating

4.1 /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!

4.5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

3.8/5 - 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

Analysing data to improve the lifecycle of separate platforms

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

5/5

I really enjoy my apprenticeship, I find the work extremely interesting and how I am helping the country boosts this

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

5/5

Yes, all my people skills I feel have improved, this is both from my opinion and also from other senior members within my apprenticeship providing me with feedback on my progress as a person and an engineer.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

4/5

My apprenticeship scheme has mostly been well structured, the only issue is with communication from the Skills development centre (SDC). This is due to me finding any information out from other apprentices oppose to from the SDC themselves.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

5/5

My Line manager is very supportive of me and all my Placement Managers are as well. Examples of this include support by reducing my travel time and allowing me to WFH more than others, this is due to me showing I am capable of this and therefore both Placement Managers and Line manager having the trust in me to complete work whilst being at home.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

3/5

The SDC was always available for support however they only openly offered support towards the end of my HNC qualification, I never required much support on this work however.
In regards to my Engineering Standard I have 12 week LPRs with my Skills coach, however he has been absent for the previous 6 weeks and I received no update on this matter from the SDC.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

3/5

I feel my HNC qualification will support me with skills on some areas of my work, however I don't think all units involved will be relevant in my future.
My Engineering Standard is something that I work towards throughout my apprenticeship and so is relevant as I am required to pass this in order to complete my apprenticeship.

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

Yes, there is a plethora of activities - ranging from open days at schools or colleges, opportunities to support the intake process (whether this be as a table lead in the induction week or be apart of the interview process) and also there is opportunities to participate on the Junior Lead Field Gun team.
However, the communication for these aren't very good, I only receive information on the open days. All the others are due to me speaking to apprentices who spend more time within the SDC as I don't spend any time in there and that is where the information is passed down.