Mechatronics maintenance apprentice Review
at AWE
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Electrician, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Aldermaston
Review Submitted: May 2026
Overall Rating
3.5 /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
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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:
3/5
Mechatronics is a mix of multiple trades so we complete allot of other trades and work on different systems from electrical installations to mechanical assemblies and electronic boards. we bounce around and move around the workshop and trade functions depending on what part of the course you are on.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
When you can complete tasks they are well laid out well and the document and theory builds you up well, and you will always be capable of completing a task you are given as long as you have paid attention previously.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt allot of skills by having access to lots of resources and practicing and strict marking on some tasks. We also have training managers that can walk you through tasks and explain things as you go through but there is limited training managers and there can be long wait times on marking, especially with some tasks being months long and having to be marked and assessed quickly.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
It is well organised but changes allot and you can end up doing tasks your not meant to and personally spent a month doing part of a task I didn't need to before finding out. Although allot of the apprenticeship requirements have been changed meaning we have to change months of already completed reports. All the tasks are laid out on the documentation portals and the training managers will direct you to the next task when asked.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Anytime i have asked for help i have gotten it and there are people who's whole job is to support you though the apprenticeship and manage personal life conflicts. All the training managers are reasonable and will make reasonable adjustments where necessary.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
When asked they have provided lessons on topics that were taught poorly at college or rushed, but wont teach you same application as the question you need to answers to not coach you through the assignment questions.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
Nothing i have learnt in college has helped towards any of my practical skills and is a 90 percent repeat of GCSE level knowledge. There is some units like the calculus course that is new but is never used in role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
limited one time events like a marathon or a charity football match but nothing that runs constantly
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AWE to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Its a stable job and has a range of apprenticeships to take just make sure to choose the right trade and role for you. But also be aware you might have lots of downtime in your final role and you need to have patience or be more confrontational to push your way through and sometimes need to give a bit of a push to get things moving on the course. I have also been told that there is higher routes you can work through so there will always be a next position to work up towards. You also work on a wide range of tasks and machines to build up knowledge towards your trade as a whole and do feel more capable by the end of the course.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AWE?
Know what you are applying for as I was told off class leading facilities but have yet to see any and ended up in a WW2 hanger workshop with no AC that gets up to 36 degrees in the summer. But the tools and training provided are good but expect allot of downtime and time where you need to find work to complete for yourself to fill voids and ques on tasks. The course is more tailored to people just out of school or college and is structured similarly so might not be suitable for some.
