What made you choose an apprenticeship over other education routes available?
Would you recommend it to other people?
I was torn to begin with. I enjoyed studying and learning but I also knew this was a great opportunity. In the end, I decided that I could always go back to college/uni later so I would try the apprenticeship first and make the most of it.
I'd definitely recommend it and I am so glad I chose to take up the offer. It was the best decision I ever made
Choosing an apprenticeship doesn't mean it's one or the other; studying or working. I can do a combination of the two and that's what I love most
That's a tricky one as no day is the same! When I was training in the first year, we did a bit of everything so we had the basic engineering skills. Nowadays, I'm looking at the safety of systems on our products and ensuring they are safe to use.
I get involved in meetings, shop floor work (manufacturing) and also the introduction of new tech
How long does it take to complete an apprenticeship and do you need to do a uni course during your apprenticeship?
My apprenticeship is just over 3 years but there are lots of variants out there. I started off doing a BTEC during my apprenticeship and now I've finished that, I've just completed the first year of a HNC
@brainzistheword what's one piece of advice you'd give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
If you're unsure and asking friends/teachers/tutors etc. whether or not to do an apprenticeship, keep in mind that they may not know enough about the schemes themselves, and therefore they may be more reluctant to encourage you down that path. It's best to do your own research into what they involve and make your own decision
In my apprenticeship year, there were 8 females (including myself). Within my department specifically, there's only one other female but I honestly never noticed until someone pointed it out to me!