On leaving High School after completing 6th year, I worked a part time job in a Supermarket and Post Office whilst I trained in preparation for joining the Royal Navy as a Submariner.
On completion of my final stage, I came to the realisation that leaving the country for extended periods of time at just 17 years old was not for me, commencing a search for a different role in Engineering which would allow me to stay closer to home a little longer.
During this exploration I discovered Raytheon who unbeknownst to me had a Manufacturing facility just 15 minutes from my hometown. I applied, was successful and began working in Glenrothes just a few months later where I have combined studying towards a degree in Design and Manufacture Engineering (Electrical) and working on site alongside a wealth of experienced engineers over the past 4 years.
I cannot fault my experience over the past 4 years undertaking the Graduate Apprenticeship Programme with Raytheon. From day one I was included as part of the team and have had the privilege of working alongside a variety of experienced Engineers each with a wealth of knowledge in several areas.
For the first 2-3 years I worked on a rotational basis, allowing me to observe and work within different areas of the business to gain a foundational understanding of the many operations carried out at Raytheon.
From then onwards I have settled into a more permanent position within the Test Engineering function where my responsibilities have increased, and my skills and knowledge have grown exponentially.
An obvious benefit to completing an apprenticeship is the fact that I have been able to gain the same level of degree in the same length of time that a typical student would but have also had the opportunity to work in industry and earn a wage whilst doing so.
Whilst studying itself provides a base understanding, the work I have been involved in whilst onsite has been invaluable in terms of my development and understanding of the engineering concepts I will need throughout my career.
I am a great advocate for the phrase ‘You get out what you put in’ so I would advise future applicants to consistently try their hardest and apply themselves as best they can to every situation presented to them.
It is obvious that as human beings we cannot all excel at everything and that each of us have our own unique skillset, but provided you are giving everything your best go, you’ll not go far wrong. I know for sure it is a certainty at Raytheon that there will always be someone nearby to lend a hand or offer advice where necessary.
