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BAE Systems looks at the pros and cons of apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a huge commitment; so when considering whether to become an apprentice it is important to carefully weigh up the pros and cons.

Becoming an apprentice takes an enormous amount of commitment, hard work and dedication. At BAE Systems, apprenticeships are considered the foundation of a career, providing the essential skills needed for your future career.

The BAE Systems’ Advanced Apprenticeship programme is one of the largest such schemes in the UK. At any one time, the company has up to 1,000 young people employed on its numerous training programmes. Apprentices are trained in a wide number of skills, from engineering to business administration and information technology.

Apprenticeships are a huge commitment; they can last anywhere between two and four and a half years, so when considering whether to become an apprentice it is important to carefully weigh up the pros and cons.

Apprentices get a unique insight into their future business and are given the opportunity to work on exciting projects with experts at all levels. Apprenticeships are dynamic, exciting and fast moving and offer a more in-depth experience than studying alone can offer.

 Training and Development

The training and development and apprentice can expect depends very much on the company. Some huge companies like BAE Systems, set aside a lot of time and resources to make sure apprentices get everything they need to equip them for the future. 

Richard Hamer, BAE Systems’ Education Partnerships Director says: “The development of skills for our apprentices is fundamental to the ongoing success of BAE Systems. We work hard to make sure that all our apprentices receive the best development and training that they can. BAE Systems encourages all employees to give their best and realise their full potential through learning and development opportunities.”

Employability

The skills you will learn during your apprenticeship will make you an attractive potential employee in the future and will help you move forward in your career.

Employers are impressed to see that you have the dedication to balance a demanding job with coursework and that you are able to take on a long term work commitment.

An apprentice’s perspective

Rachael Hoyle, 20, is a Technical Engineering Apprentice for BAE Systems at Warton Aerodrome. Rachael was recently awarded the prestigious Dyson Young Woman Engineering Apprentice of the Year, run by the Institute of Engineering Technology.

Since her award, Rachael has started her HNC and hopes to follow her apprenticeship with an engineering degree to help develop her role within the Structures team. She has also played an active role helping other young women choose careers through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scheme. Rachael spent a day promoting Girls in Aerospace by speaking to large groups of female Year Nine students about her experiences as an apprentice and why she chose engineering as her career.

Although Rachael did not always plan to be an engineer, throughout her school life she did hold high aspirations of her future career. Rachael knew she wanted a career that would challenge her from day-to-day, and involve her favourite school subjects, Maths and Sciences.

Rachael chose to become a BAE Systems apprentice as the scheme allowed her to begin her career by working in a variety of technical environments, experiencing a wide variety of engineering disciplines and scope out the various career opportunities within the organisation.

Since starting her apprenticeship, no two days have been the same for Rachael Hoyle. Her tasks vary from fixing parts and crawling around the aircraft in overalls, to analysing data, liaising with shop-floor and aircraft designers to answer technical questions. Rachael has also had the opportunity to participate in the Apprentice Innovation Challenge, in which Rachael and her team were challenged to design and manufacture a product to help those who suffer limb paralysis or memory loss following a stroke.

Rachael, who is currently working as a Typhoon Structures Engineer, says that her apprenticeship with BAE Systems has enabled her to develop a great foundation of essential life skills to carry her forward into her career.

 

Further information

Find out more about BAE Systems’ apprenticeship scheme.

You can also speak to apprenticeship specialists here at the IET by contacting our member and customer service department on 01438 765678 or by email at apprentice@theiet.org.