Body CAD Review

Our first year starts at college in which we study maths, materials, manufacturing and asset in classrooms, and we do a variety of workshop classes as well on a rota basis. During the college holidays we are in plant, and the first year this involves CAD and AVA training. The college allow us to get on with our own work as long as we have finished the assigned stuff.

I have learnt many new skills in the workshop, including CNC machining, milling, turning, welding, engine build, manual assembly, fitting. In the classroom, we have covered nothing more than alevel further maths, but the materials stuff is new as well as manufacturing if you have not done product design before.

I really enjoy the programme, it has allowed me to develop as a person and grow confidence. It is a really good programme if you like practical work and doing hands on things. If you are wanting to do engineering at university then it is a really good programme as you get paid but still get a degree.

The college course is not very well organised with lots of timetabling issues and course issues with lecturers not being very well aware of what we are doing. The course as a whole organised by JLR is very good and we have an entire plan for the 6 years so we know what we are doing for the whole year ahead.

We get lots of support from JLR in many ways and have had lots of contact about mental health and other issues we may be facing such as gambling or drugs and drinking. The college has a good support system with JLR info being our main point of contact and they are the best to help us.

The college provides some support however the lecturers are sometimes not very useful when it comes to receiving feedback on assignments and you really have to try and get hold of them which is not an easy task in order to get feedback that you want. The other types of support are good like for any issues we have they are dealt with.

Some workshops do not seem to link to the job we will be doing as CAD engineers, such as fitting and manual assembly. However, courses such as CNC are useful as we get a better idea of production methods which will help us in our designing in work. Classroom classes are sometimes useful such as materials, however ASSET does not seem to aid us massively.

There are no extracurricular activities we can be involved in during our time at college as there is nothing that the college run we are able to take part in. When we are in work there are multiple outsides of work activities that are run which we have the ability to take part in

Yes

It is a well-organised company with really good progression prospects in the future and as a company, it provides great opportunities with good pay for 6 years followed by an excellent outcome with a degree and work experience all in one place. JLR is a very people-focused organisation which makes it enjoyable to be a part of.

Ensure that you are prepared for the workload in later years, and make sure that when you apply, you understand the job role fully so that there are no surprises when it comes to working. Ensure that you have looked at other options and know it is exactly what you want to do as it is a long commitment.