Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Apprentice Review

For Year 1 I arrive at work for an 8am start working 8am to 5pm for college on a Monday and 8am - 16:30pm Tues-Thurs and 8am - 12:30pm on a Friday, Tues to Fri is practical training involving electrical, handfitting, welding, etc. Years 2-4 are placements within the plant and sister locations working with the maintenance teams learning about the day to day typically 7am to 15:30pm but depends on the placement

I have developed my confidence and worked with all my tutors, peers and managers, getting involved with set tasks with BMW associates, as well as using my own initiative to improve my workspace. In the workshop I hadn't done most of the tasks before so I have picked up new skills for electronics, mechanical maintenance, VPS training, etc.

I highly enjoy my programme at the moment, each tutor is competent and helpful and each superior is very friendly and helpful, which makes me feel care for in this position. My peers are easy to get along with and are very sociable. The course has opened me up to new interests and more than just engineering. The new skills I have learnt are also interesting to me and will help me be more engaging and helpful inside and outside work.

The programme has its ups and downs but mostly in my case has been well structured and thoughtfully planned out with each individual apprentice in mind. My future in the course is secure too and planned ahead of time for the ease of myself and everyone else involved. I feel like the college side needs more improvement but other than that the structure is good.

I receive more than enough support and advantages from my employers and anything from medical attention to 1-1 advice, etc. is available to me at anytime. Everyone is friendly and helpful providing me with the support I need to help complete my work. There is also extended support available for people suffering from mental health problems and physical disabilities.

There is almost radio silence from BMET in terms of getting support and when we have reached out about certain aspects of the course regarding BMET as a year group nothing has been done to change anything or support us and our learning as a year group. It is upsetting and needs improvement.

Some of the work submitted to us has minimal to do with the qualification and careers we aim for in terms of the college paperwork. For the workshop we cover more than enough to prepare us for our placements and the qualification we will receive and where that will take us in the future.

There is a Mini football team (which extends beyond apprentices) as well as a series of additional activities to get involved in such as charity events and family fun days which help bring us together as a location and lets our families and friends experience what we do on a day to day basis. However, there could be more and if there is then it could be advertised more effectively.

Yes

It is an exciting, interesting and educational apprenticeship teaching you simple and complex skills which allows you to improve yourself for the career you want to do. Everyone is supportive, friendly and invested in you and your career. I have and will continue to recommend the apprenticeship to my friends and family.

Don't overthink anything you do from the pre-interview stages to the EPA (end-point assessment) it is not too difficult and your superiors will be with you every step of the way. If you are unsure about something just ask, if you make a mistake then try again, if you break something then be honest, you won't get in trouble for things like that. You will be shown support and how to do whatever you're struggling with.