GA Manufacturing Engineer Review

Working at Vauxhall gave me a great insight into what working within a manufacturing engineering enviornment is like. I was given many big tasks to handle with support when i needed it and gave me the confidence to grow into the role.

Everyone at the organisation showed the same great levels of respect to me as the would their other colleagues.

To begin, i was given great support to ensure i could meet everyone i needed to and was aware of what i needed to get my job done. Throughout the year, the support slowly eased off to allow me to find my own way and make my own contacts. Saying this, help was always ready avaliable whenever i needed it. I never felt left on my own.

Throughout the year the work load differs. The start was slow in order to help ease me into the company, once i had built up a few working relations i was very busy to the point i was delegating to other members of the team.

Everyone at Vauxhall are fully trusting of undergraduates and are willing to leave you with the responsibility if you show you are ready for it. This leaves you in charge of teams, some of which contain people higher up, but you will be the one gathering the information, reporting back and giving them tasks to help you acheive.

I have learnt a countless number of skills throughout the year, both to help me in a working environment and outside. I have learnt computer skills, people involvement skills, communication skills as well as learning and leardship skills. This has all helped toward me building my confidence ready to tackle the final years of university.

Theres a great atmosphere within the office. I worked in the main office in General Assembly of the plant and this included a mixture of manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, production supervisors and techincal clerks. This is a great way of getting to know different parts of the company and everyone works in sync which allows a fluent transition of work.

The placement year has been running for a while now and so everyone is aware of the programme and what it does. Each undergraduate has their own job role within the company that they look after and will also get involved with projects working with different people. At the end of each year the current undergraduates will speand 2-3 weeks with the new undergraduate to ensure they are comfortable with the job role and know their way around before leaving them to take over the job.

I recieved all basic training straight away to make sure i could carry out basic computer tasks and daily jobs. I was also given complex problem solving training to help me with different projects. Any questions i had about the uses of machinery, software etc. was dealt with promptly and was made sure i was comfortable with the use before leaving me to use it.

As part of the placement year, i have closely worked with graduates that have only just joined the company from their placement year. All undergraduates get the oppurtunity to present to the head management of the plant up to 3 times a year to show their progress both professionally and personally, which helps towards feeling the work you have done throughout the year is recognised and noticed.

All undergraduates are introduced to one another and reguarly get together to socialise.

Quite cheap. Depends on what you are looking for.

Nightlight is limited.

The company regularly update you on all events and activies happening both inside and outside of work