Apprentice Technician Review

As an apprentice Technician I am responsible for chores around the workshop such as clearing the scrap metal and tyres, I need to make sure the workshop is clean and to brand standards. On a daily basis I interact with my senior colleagues who assist me with work or quality checking my work as in my third year I now work on my own ramp with the guidance of colleagues around me to ensure work is to a high standard of quality. I am responsible for my own work and carrying out to the brand standards making sure to quality check all work I have carried out.

When starting my apprenticeship I had never worked with light vehicles and had next to no experience, over the course of my apprenticeship I have developed many new skills and have further developed the skills I have learnt at work through the excellent training programmes at the national learning centre that I have had to attend through my apprenticeship. The course both cement knowledge I have already learnt, whilst also teaching me new skills that help me on a daily basis in my job role through the excellently crafted training weeks that Volkswagen has crafted. I also have access and am expected to carry out online training modules through VW LEAP which is again excellent for learning new knowledge and cementing the knowledge I have already gained. through my apprenticeship I have developed both my professional skills but also my interpersonal skills becoming a more well rounded and confident person.

The Audi/VW programme is an excellent apprenticeship programme that I would recommend to anyone, as the level of support and general culture of the group is brilliant. I enjoy every aspect of my apprenticeship and have had no negative experiences in either the work or training environment. Waking up each day to go to a job you truly enjoy is a fantastic blessing and really sets the VW group apart from any other company I have worked for previously. The overall experience and growth I have gained from the apprenticeship is amazing and has met and exceeded all expectations I had going into it.

I feel extremely valued by the group and have even won an AUDI spirit award only award to 1% of group employees for my achievements at my outward bounds course. On a daily basis completing jobs gives me a great sense of satisfaction, and both my colleagues and management appreciate the dedication and passion I put into all my work.

The organisation is seamless and at no point have I felt left in the dark or unsure of what is expected of me. The support I receive at work, college and my VLA is fantastic and no matter which I turn to I know I will receive there full support and have great faith in all of them. The training is excellent having access to online training is extremely useful as if I am unsure of a certain aspect of my job I can refresh my knowledge of find out via the LEAP system. The NLC training programme is very comprehensive and will planned out and delivered, you can see from the very start how much effort has gone into crafting this course making you want to start achieving and working hard from the start to the finish.

My VLA offers fantastic support and is always available if I have any problem or query. He has been very helpful in my skill development and is always happy to help if I need some extra support in a certain area for example vehicle electrics. I have never had any issues with the support I have received and it has been both excellent a comprehensive through out my apprenticeship.

My management team has constantly supported me throughout my apprenticeship both in my professional and personal life, and I know that I can turn to anyone at my dealership if I am having any issues with the confidence that they will always help or guide me in the right direction. I have never felt that anyone is unapproachable or doesn't want to help me which makes my working environment an excellent place to be.

I have never had any financial issues since starting my apprenticeship and my wage has always been enough to live off of causing me no issues monetarily. Each year my pay has been revised to suit both mine and my companies needs. I have been able to progress in my chosen career without having to sacrifice my social life by not having the costs to cover my daily living or social costs. Though apprenticeship money isn't amazing it is perfectly liveable and you can lead a good standard of living you just may need to develop your budgeting skills and think about certain purchase before splashing out, overall though it should cause no issues to your day to day life if you are sensible.

My company holds many events for colleagues each year allowing interdepartmental relationship building and socialising. The company will also buy us lunch or breakfast occasionally as a thank you for our dedication and hard work. We also hold football matches for colleagues to relax and have fun outside of the work place with a healthy level of competition involved. Our group also has its own charity WHIZZ kids which colleagues are constantly involved in fund raising events for. Last year colleagues could volunteer to carry out a fund raising sky dive event to raise money for this great charity.

Yes

It is a brilliant and supportive group to work within, with great career potential for the future. It has fantastic training programmes and support to develop your professional and personal skills that have been crafted to push you to your maximum potential, overall it is a great, supportive and friendly group to work for where you will be able to achieve great things if you put the effort in, and you will be able to develop your true potential and achieve things you may have thought weren't possible before hand.

Have a positive attitude to anything you undertake within the group, and show your passion for this fantastic brand and its brilliant products as it will be noticed and not taken for granted. Take all the opportunities you can get and get stuck in with anything you are offered as it will help you develop both professionally but more importantly personally. The last piece of advise is apply as you will not be disappointed by the outcome, as VW group is an excellent group to work for and you will be able to achieve everything you wanted to with their full support.