Prototype Development Review

My role as an apprentice at JLR is very good as I am sent around the company to explore various job roles and experience to maximise my training. Currently, I am a member of the Prototype Department and it involved working on a variety of vehicles every day. The training is delivered 1 to 1 working with experienced mechanics who have been in the job for 5-10 years and they show you what to. They are there to assign me tasks and watch over me as I complete them. If I make any mistakes or there is a better method of completing a certain task, the mentors (mechanics) will step in and show me what to do. In my 3rd year as an apprentice, I attend college on a Monday where I am taught the fundamentals of Vehicle Technology which goes towards my BTEC level 3 extended diploma qualification.

I feel that my skills and knowledge of the business have come on leaps and bounds due to the theory and practical training I have received. The company have achieved this by setting up a program that allows me to gain 1 to 1 tuition from experienced workers and have provided me with a good college that teaches at a high standard. As well as this, JLR offer its apprentices a lot of opportunities with regards to internal training on various types of equipment, tooling and driving courses.

What I love most about JLR is the work I am set to which is not only varied but also extremely interesting. Accompanied by a great team of people that help me day by day, it makes work enjoyable and it's a great opportunity for anyone to come into the business to earn whilst receiving quality training.

The company put a lot of effort into its apprenticeship program because soon, we will be replacing employees that retire and those years of experience will be lost. I feel valued because the company, managers and workers are always willing to help me and they are very keen and passionate to see me learn to the best possible standard.

The program is very thorough and covers all basis of an excellent apprenticeship program. The first year is spent at college full time, learning the basics of vehicle technology and enegineering. Once this year has been completed, years 2 and 3 are more plant based working 4 times a week with Mondays as a college day. Year 4 is plant based only in order to complete NVQs in engineering. There are regular meetings every 6 weeks with managers wanting to hear your progressions as an apprentice and whether there are problems so there is plenty of support from your superiors.

For every groups of apprentices, there is a tutor/adviser assignment to them. Their role is to oversee my program; that I am meeting deadlines and achieving everything I am set out to do. As well as this, they monitor my JLR logbook to see the work I am doing and regular check my placement review forms. It is these people that offer the support when needed and because it is one person, I feel they are very knowledgeable, trustworthy and reliable so the support is 100 per cent there.

Working with my tutor/adviser are the managers that are also keen to oversee the apprentice's rate of progress. Every 6 weeks, I am called into a meeting with my tutor and managers to have a talk about how the apprenticeship is going, if there are any problems and how they can improve it. Because of this, there are plenty of opportunities for discussion and to gain support from people who have got the experience and knowledge to help you get through. This is another reason why I feel valued as an apprentice.

The salary enables me to live very comfortably covering living costs, travelling, daily and social costs. JLR has one of the best paid apprentices in the country and it is this fact that enables me to live a good life whilst training with them. It is faultless because every 6 months, the apprentice receives a pay increase depending on their behaviour and whether their work is up to standard. You feel rewarded for hard work.

There are weekly opportunities to do various activities and work outside you're own department. Recently, I have been working for Williams F1, JLR classic and other departments located around JLR's sites. As well as this, you can participate in community projects and use a £200 ELS scheme to pay towards an activity you have always wanted to do or gain a qualification such as SCUBA diving, brick laying etc.

Yes

Yes because it is an excellent, all-round package that gives you professional training and so many opportunities. The work is varied and fun to carry out.

My advice would be to be very professional and thorough in the application process. Make sure that everything you have done is listed because JLR offer a wide variety of other jobs in IT, site maintenance, track work etc so it is important not to miss off any qualities/experience you may have. Also, don't be put off if you do not know much about cars because they will teach and train you on the matter. The interview can be so daunting but just be yourself and concentrate on the tasks given to you on the day; they are simple but are designed to catch you out of you over think things.