Rating

6.4/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I work as a body engineer apprentice. In the first year I go to college full time to learn academic skills as well as do workshop modules such as turning/milling, welding, and manual assembly. On a day to day basis I complete college assigned tasks to work towards a foundation degree which I will finish in my second year (one day a week in college during year 2).

    7/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have developed new skills in the machining workshops including turning, milling, and CNC machining. I had no prior experience working with these but now I have a competence with all. I also learned how to weld which is an interesting skill to learn. Finally I have gained skills in working with others to complete tasks which are vital to have in the everyday working environment.

    9/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I enjoy my programme when in workshop modules because they are interesting and allow me to learn skills in areas I would otherwise never have access to. However, the higher education academic lessons can be quite taxing and difficult. The assignments are often vague and the general academic learning in the college is not a good standard so I don't enjoy it.

    5/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The programme on the whole six years is quite well organised and structured, but workload in the college during year one is not. Assignments can be set at different periods of the year and some classes get more time than others depending on the assessor or the timetable. Plant weeks are often well organised.

    8/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • In the first year we receive very little support from our employer during college. We have business updates and behavioural reviews, but the results of these do not make it as far as our designated line manager. Even though it is not important for the employer to be present during our first year of full time college, it would help raise morale if they were more involved to make first year apprentices feel more integrated in the company.

    4/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • You receive moderate support in the day to day work environment, but you can receive additional support if you reach out for it. There are many systems in place through the company to deal with all issues ranging from college struggles to personal issues to mental health or time management. If you need support it is definitely there, but you have to ask for it.

    8/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • I feel the qualification helps me in my job role because there is lots of CAD training which ultimately is what I will be doing for the majority of my time in this job role. The other modules are also engineering based (Materials engineering, Manufacturing) which give you a better perspective on how products are manufactured so you can improve your CAD design to suit. The ASSET module is not very useful.

    6/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • There are no extra curricular activities I am aware of that are easily accessible in the first year. There are engineering projects and competitions through the company to help aid the business but being in my first year of college I do not see the business very much as therefore struggle to get involved.

    4/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend JLR to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • It is a very strong company who have a solid structure the apprentices. If the company were more involved with the apprenticeship and tackled issues students face regarding work in college then it would be better. The wage is very good and the student accommodation is also of a high standard for those working away.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to JLR?
  • Research into the different job roles and question on them so you choose the most appropriate pathway for you. Work hard before joining the company and do a project/events that give you idealistic qualities for engineering. You don't have to be the best acadfemically for this apprenticeship if you have engineering skills.


Details

Degree Apprenticeship

Engineering

Warwickshire

April 2019


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