Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

I am currently on placements around Plant Oxford. My roles have consisted of anything between testing pre production cars to measuring and analyzing single parts from current production models, all dependent on the placements. It is in these placements that I am learning the skills to work in Quality and Engineering at the end of the apprenticeship.

I have gained a much better knowledge of the more intricate systems within cars as well as use of different machinery. This includes coordinate measuring machines, 3D scanners, shaker rigs and the water testing facility, as well as specialist software for coding cars. There are many aspects to each role and placement so you are constantly learning or developing new skills.

I thoroughly enjoy the apprenticeship program here, there is a good support network, excellent job perks and everyone I have worked with in the business has been enjoyable to interact with. All aspects around the on and off site work I have done has been an enjoyable experience for me.

Given the current climate, there have of course been some issues that have got in the way of the apprenticeship program, however these are of course out of the company's hands. There is a placement plan that tells you where you will be and when, all relevant to your final job role.

Within the placements, if you express an interest in any area, the people who are specialists will be willing to show you as much as possible. The general support network between apprentices is excellent, even with others from different year intakes, which makes moving forward much smoother and more enjoyable.

Due to the current world situation it has been difficult to be taught the various aspects of the foundation degree and it has unfortunately led to a larger amount of self teaching than is ideal. However, understanding this factor I would consider the training side to be fairly supportive as long as you are confident to work alone.

There are aspects of the Foundation Degree course that translate well into my daily work, and a good example would be in the materials unit which alongside the CAD unit has been the most relevant. Understanding the manufacturing processes used and the various individual qualities of different materials helps when working with them in the real world.

There are opportunities to do events to help support the company's chosen charity, such as the tough mudder or the mountain challenge which BMW are supporting some of my fellow students to participate in. Each year there is a Cowley Carnival where the apprentices along with artists work together to produce a carnival car using a Mini as the base.

Yes

Due to the massive range of benefits, very competitive salary and support from both the college and BMW themselves. The placements that I have been on have been with some really good people who are happy to share their knowledge and are all very welcoming. This is key to making the role enjoyable.

It is definitely worth ensuring that your core maths skills are good, as well as a decent understanding of how mechanical systems work. This will put you in an excellent position as you will have good background knowledge that will allow you to progress quickly throughout the course. Aside from this, enthusiasm is key.