Interested in pursuing a degree apprenticeship? We spoke to Gary Bradshaw – HR Advisor in ECP Development at MBDA, one of UCW’s biggest degree apprentice employers. Gary shared valuable insights into the degree apprenticeship opportunities at MBDA, along with tips for applying and excelling within the company.
How do degree apprentices benefit your business?
At MBDA we offer a range of apprenticeship schemes from Lv3 -7 but a large percentage of these are Lv6 apprenticeship schemes ranging from Engineering to Business, Software and IM. The business recognises that Early Careers is a constant pipeline of home-grown talent into the business which creates a flourishing and diverse workforce. We have very successful apprenticeship and graduate schemes which are utilised by the business, but apprenticeships offer a qualified and experienced employee which are not only better embedded into our business and better understand our behaviours but also are normally two years younger than a graduating graduate.
What would you say to someone interested in a degree apprenticeship?
Research the scheme and the business who are offering the apprenticeship and make sure the scheme offers the right KSB’s you are interested in. Also make sure you are able to travel to the Business and the Training Provider. Go for it!! When completing a degree apprenticeship, not only do you gain the academic knowledge to attain your degree but you also gain normally 4 years of KSB’s from the business you are joining. Once completed you will be a fully qualified employee with 4 years of experience in your role.
What qualities do you look for when recruiting a degree apprentice?
At MBDA we look at recruiting apprentices who align to our Company Values and Behaviours. We also are looking for enthusiastic and engaging candidates who show a positive attitude to the offer available and show interest in the scheme they are applying for. The KSB’s are shared during the apprenticeship so it is more about the individual.
How does your organisation support new degree apprentices during the onboarding process?
At MBDA our new degree apprentices has a vast amount of support during their onboarding into our business. During our onboarding processes the Recruitment team are in constant contact with our apprentices as they prepare to start their careers with us. They are also assigned Buddies before joining the business who reach out to them prior to joining. We also hold a Pre-Joining event where our apprentices are invited to site to gain an overview of the business and their schemes. They also have the opportunity to meet their new teams and also their Training Provider. On their day of joining, they attend a Day 1 induction where they can start to network further with apprentices and Graduates in their cohort with a mixture of information sharing and team building tasks. Throughout the following weeks they attend a multitude of courses to ensure they are all “Business Ready” including MBDA specific courses plus H&S and Mental Health and Wellbeing sessions. Finally, we invite all our new apprentices and Graduates to an offsite Main Induction event where we start the journey of creating a positive mind-set for their schemes and integration into the business.
How do you support apprentices in developing soft skills?
Our apprentices have a vast amount of external opportunities including Outreach and STEM activities plus involvement in the Charity Challenge Team. They also attend 2 one-week residentials which is designed to improve all their softer skill sets. Included in this delivery is the opportunity to run a charitable project as a team to raise money for charities that are aligned to our business.
What kind of preparation would you recommend to someone before starting a degree apprenticeship?
For a degree apprenticeship you have to be prepared to pick up a lot within a short space of time and able to adjust to changes. To get the most and be successful within your apprenticeship you should also be able to manage your time well enough that you are able to put the most you can into studying whilst also giving yourself time to enjoy outside of work. It is the best time to learn from your mistakes as you study and finding your own way of doing things is also important. So take some risks, try new things and always look for feedback to improve.
How does completing a degree apprenticeship benefit someone in the long run, beyond just earning a qualification?
As stated earlier you gain 4 years of KSB’s on Placements within a business plus you will also gain your softer skill sets as you learn to interact with members of your teams, working on projects and tasks. You also have the extra support from your work mentors who can share KSB’s during your apprenticeship and build on the knowledge gained from your Training Provider.
What inspires you most about working with degree apprentices?
When an apprentice graduates off scheme they are a completely different individual from the person who onboarded 4 years ago. It is great to see apprentices grow throughout their scheme and become key members of their teams with new and innovative ideas. Apprentices help to diversify our workforce which only makes a business stronger. To see the successes achieved by apprentices as they develop is inspiring and should be celebrated.
To find out more about degree apprenticeships at UCW, click here!
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