Fte/etps

[Shirley Knott]

Folks,

I don't want to re-invent the wheel again (I tried the FAQ links on the FAQ thread and it said 'unspecified something-or-other' error on some), but I'm interested in peoples experiences/opinions on progressing/broadening one's career by going through the TP course.

I'm working for a large aerospace company (that I know occasionally puts people through TP school) at the moment and am keen to do ETPS. I know the company line on it, but it would be enlightening to learn from the experience of others...

Do any other (UK) companies put their employees through TP school and are there any handcuffs associated with it?

Shirl

[Two_Squirrels]

Short answer is no, other than QinetiQ. Airbus put a couple through in 1993, and, yes, they had 'handcuffs' to a certain extent. Other (smalller), non British, companies have sent Civilians on various ETPS courses, but not the year long graduate course.

[BossEyed]

Chris, that would have a better claim to be a valid comment if things had been any different in pre-QQ days.

Which they weren't!

[Shirley Knott]

Thanks for the replies guys :)

Chris/Boss, could you expand a little on what you are getting at? Are you saying that industry thinks the training from ETPS is not good?

T_S, that's pretty much what I thought/suspected, thank you for confirming it.

I am not so much worried about 'payback' time, more about what sort of doors it opens.

Shirl

[BossEyed]

Chris/Boss, could you expand a little on what you are getting at? Are you saying that industry thinks the training from ETPS is not good?

Absolutely not, Shirls - if that were the case, Industry wouldn't poach graduates at the rate they do! :hmm:

I was taking issue with Chris' suggestion that Industry is "not keen" on sending people to ETPS because it is now an element of QQ. There is absolutely no evidence that that is the case, and things are little different now than prior to the formation of QQ.

For info, ETPS is not a QQ-only toyset: it is part of the Air Test & Evalutaion Centre (ATEC), which is a partnership between MOD and QQ.

[Raymond Ginardon]

QQ are a big but slow 'animal' - they seem to have too much inertia and insufficient flexibility to manage the careers of some of their brightest fledgelings. I saw talent leave in droves, I hope it has/will change.

Shirley - if you get the chance to do the course and you want to do it, then go for it (it certainly won't hurt your career or future, but it's not a guarantee for 'success').

Ray