The Journey
I attended sixth form to complete my A-levels in Maths, Physics and French, with no idea of what I wanted to do as my post-18 option. It was compulsory at my school that we complete our personal statement and do the 5 traditional university applications, so I did this, though I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. Thankfully, my cousin and my sister introduced me to degree apprenticeships, so I looked into them and knew this was the right path for me post after A-Levels. Excited about the potential opportunities that come with degree apprenticeships, I researched companies in the nuclear industry and found Rolls-Royce, and after further researching the company, I knew it was them I wanted to do my degree apprenticeship with. In Summer 2024, after receiving my A-level results, I secured a place at Rolls-Royce and am now a first year Nuclear Engineering Degree Apprentice at Rolls-Royce.
Why I chose it?
For me, a degree apprenticeship was the best option, I get hands on experience while completing my degree. I gain a job, a degree and 4 years of industry experience - invaluable assets in today’s job market. I think that when doing a degree apprenticeship, it is crucial that you do something that you enjoy and you find interesting, as it can be a LOT of work. I chose nuclear engineering because I find Nuclear Physics and Fusion energy fascinating, this makes it a lot easier for me to find the work-life balance as I find myself more motivated to work when I need to. Similarly, I make sure that I have one day each week where I don’t touch any work, and just do things that I enjoy, whether it’s going to the spa, gym or skatepark.
Another important factor in choosing your degree apprenticeship is to make sure that the company is right for you. You can look at the company’s values and see how they resonate with your own values and beliefs, as well as looking at what the company is doing in the industry and what their goals are. Are their goals similar to yours? Degree apprenticeships are a great way to start working early and to gain work experience quickly but it’s important that you enjoy what you are doing and that you have good time-management skills, otherwise it can be easy to become overwhelmed.
What I love
I think finding the right path for you, post-18, is different for everyone, and it can depend on learning style, goals, and motivations. Personally, what I love about degree-apprenticeships is that I’m able to put what I learn at uni into work and visa versa. Since university and work are interconnected, they complement each other, helping me gain a deeper understanding of both. Alongside enjoying the hands-on experience I gain, I love the job security and the opportunity to grow within the company after completing my degree. Throughout the apprenticeship, I develop valuable skills that are highly regarded by the company, making it easier to advance and achieve my career goals. I also appreciate the ability to earn while I learn – it has helped me develop my financial responsibility and independence swhile serving as a strong motivator to work hard for my degree.
When deciding on your post-18 pathway, degree apprenticeships are an incredible option but it’s essential to ensure the work ethic and structure suit you. My key tips for success are: choose an industry you’re genuinely passionate about, align yourself with a company whose values match your own, make time for yourself to maintain balance, and, as the classic advice goes – start all work as soon as you receive it!
