Rating
- 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
- 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
- 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
- 4. How valued do you feel by JLR?
- 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
- 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
- 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
- 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
- 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
- 9. Would you recommend JLR to a friend?
- 9b. Why?
- 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to JLR?
I work as an emission measurement engineer, my responsibilities include calibrations, maintenance and rectification of gas analysers, as well as managing gas deliveries and analysing aldehydes and ketones using a HPLC. I interact with my core team on a daily basis as well as with engine test operators. External contacts include liaising with BOC and Horiba, two suppliers used to aid the running of our test facility. I am responsible for operating the laboratory and accurately analysing the hydrocarbons present in our emissions. I also have the responsibility of placing, tracking and ordering gas orders. I am also involved in several improvement projects including ones led by myself, and others where I am part of someone else's team.
The apprenticeship programme rewards me with level 2 PEOs, an NVQ level 4, a foundation degree from Coventry University, and a Bsc Hons in Applied Engineering from Warwick University. As well as this I have completed courses as part of my department including gas safety training and analyser maintenance training. I am also in the process of completing a course relating to the HPLC.
The programme is well structured and there is lots of support given. I most enjoy being in placement in my department, where I am fully integrated into the team, solving problems and producing high quality work. The company has many great benefits and treats the apprentices very well. On the whole it has exceeded my expectations.
I feel well appreciated from my team and managers in plant, being given praise and responsibilities reinforce my importance as part of the team. I have deep involvement in several projects and my suggestions are noted.
The programme itself is well structured, with a defined path through the foundation degree and full degree. Communications are generally good from the apprentice team. The organisation and structure of the college used is poor however, but support is given to help mitigate these issues.
The training provider who are responsible for attaining our foundation degree are on the whole poor. Support from certain lecturers is excellent but overall many of the lectures are not to a good enough standard to teach the subjects that they are in charge of.
My employer provides good support. I have an assigned work based learning manager who regularly monitors my progress, and in plant I have a skills matrix that I am guided towards and I am given plenty of support when learning new things.
My salary is very good for an apprentice with a good system of rate for stage pay increases.
The company runs an employee learning scheme which gives each employee and allowance of extra money to be put towards learning new skills, including non work related activities such as recreational sports. I have a corporate discount from my gym memberships and there are many other discounts available through the company.
Yes
The programme is very fulfilling and offers a good challenge, as well as allowing for a sponsored degree and other high level qualifications whilst gaining important engineering experiences and giving many benefits to employees.
The application process is very rigorous, and is one of the most challenging things I have done. It is important to read up on the company, its vehicles lines, its business behaviours and to do as most practice as possible for assessment days. It is so competitive with circa 7000 applicants for a couple of hundred places.
Details
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
West Midlands
April 2015