How long have you worked at AWE?
4 years 4 months
Why did you choose AWE?
Originally what attracted me to AWE was being part of an organisation with an important role. AWE is unique and I liked the idea of working in an environment where the work is special. Secondly, everybody I spoke to that works here said very positive things about the company.
The job and the company have surpassed my expectations and I know I made the right decision to join back in 2017. The first thing that struck me was the size of the company and I must admit it was very daunting at first, but I got used to it quickly.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship over other career routes?
Earning money was a priority for me so when the opportunity to earn while learning came up, I couldn’t pass on it. Being able to gain qualifications like my HNC and my part-time degree, as well as earning a good salary means I have made the right choice.
Gaining a trade was something my parents were very keen for me to do. The qualifications I’m gaining in education are brilliant and the trade skills (electrical) are something that I value very highly from the apprenticeship.
Finally, getting into a professional environment made me grow and mature quickly. I picked up professional and life skills through the apprenticeship a lot earlier than I would have done if I had chosen a full-time university route.
Tell us about your time at AWE? What do you do?
During my apprenticeship I spent the first 18 months in the Skills Academy, learning the basics of my trade and studying my HNC in Electrical Engineering at Reading College. I then progressed to the “on site” part of the program, where I completed placements within the engineering side of the business. This was a chance for me to gain hands-on experience and collect work evidence for my NVQ portfolio. I enjoyed this part of my training the most because it was a great opportunity to learn from engineers that really value your learning – I made sure I made the most of it!
Once I completed my apprenticeship in August, I turned out into the Electrical Design Compliance team and started my degree. This is something that I wouldn’t have been able to do without the apprenticeship and was a great opportunity.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job are the opportunities given to me on a daily basis, whether that be training or further education. It allows me to continue my professional development and will open more doors within AWE in the future.
How do you see your career progressing?
In 5 years, I am hoping to be on the right side of a completed degree and working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer. This will take a long time, but the degree will stand me in good stead to do this. I hope to continue my educational studies that will also contribute to the CEng status.
From a work perspective I hope to be in a strong position, gaining more experience in the compliance team as well as learning from my peers. I will be actively completing courses and getting stuck into as much work as possible to gain knowledge that will help me in the role.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining an AWE apprenticeship?
Go for it! It is a great place to work and once you start, just throw yourself into all the opportunities you can.