Cost Engineer Review

I am a Cost Engineer on the Higher Apprenticeship scheme. The main part of our job is to ensure we are getting value for money on parts that we purchase from suppliers. My daily tasks are very varied. We have to produce should costs for parts using cost estimating software, visit suppliers to learn about a process and ensure that the process is optimized and support various departments to ensure our cars are designed to be cost effective. As stated above we interact with a lot of people both within JLR and external to JLR. We interact heavily with suppliers, the purchasing department and the engineering department.

Whilst at college I am working towards a Foundation Degree in Engineering, which should be completed by the end of my second year. I have also completed a number of more practical courses, whilst studying for a NVQ level 3 in Performing Engineering Operations. In my third year I will start my degree at Warwick University. I have also completed a number of training courses at work. I have undergone training in the cost estimating software that we use, an injection moulding course and an on line course at Cranfield University in the Principles of Cost Engineering.

I really enjoy the higher apprenticeship programme as I am constantly learning and increasing my knowledge. The work I do is very interesting and it is nice to be able to put what you learn at college into practice. The people who I work with are really welcoming and are always happy to help you or give you advice.

Within Cost Engineering I feel really valued, there are currently 9 apprentices in the department and we have regular meeting with our apprentice manager that give us the opportunity to obtain feedback on our own performance and to voice our opinions on the apprenticeship programme. I also have a meeting every two weeks with my mentor to discuss my progress and see how I am performing.

As the programme is still relatively new there have been some organisational issues, however these are mainly associated with College. At college we tend to have no work outside of college and then all the teachers will set assignments at the same time. However the time we spend at work is very well structured and organised by the apprentice manager who has a plan for the whole six year programme.

As I am at work 4 days a week, it is easier for me to get support from the people I work with so I rarely receive support from the college. However I do have regular meetings with my ITM (industrial training manager), which are really useful and she is very supportive and always happy to help resolve any issues.

I receive a lot of help from the Cost Engineering Department. In each department that I work in, I am allocated a mentor to work closely with. However everyone in the department is always happy to help and give you support with both work and college assignments.

I currently live in Coventry with my parents, which is relatively near to College and both sites where I can work, so my living costs are relatively low. Although I travel to Gaydon most days I take the free park and ride from Coventry airport, which saves me a lot of petrol money. The salary we receive is very competitive and we receive regular pay increases, providing we perform well.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved in outside of work. Within Cost Engineering we have regular team nights out, for example bowling or meals out. There are also opportunities to get involved in voluntary work within the local community. Every employee at JLR is entitled to ELS ( Employee Learning Scheme) funding. You have £200 to spend on a hobby or activity of your choice, for example paint balling, tennis or learning a new language. There is also the JLR Challenge which is a weekend of outward bound activities.

Yes

It is a great time to join Jaguar Land Rover as we are doing so well. The company is investing lots of money in training people, especially on the apprenticeship programme. It is a great company to work for and there are many benefits and opportunities within the company. Not only do we receive a very competitive salary, but also have the opportunity to obtain a degree from Warwick University.

I would suggest trying to get relevant work experience before applying, either at Jaguar Land Rover or somewhere similar. It would also be useful to find something outside of school that is relevant to engineering, for example I participated in the Greenpower challenge. This shows that you are interested in and passionate about engineering and also gives you experiences to talk about during the interview process.