Base engine NVH apprentice. Review

Currently I am mainly studying with the learning provider but my job role is within Base engine NVH. This involves the instrumentation, measurements and analysis of the NVH characteristics of the engine. When at the learning provider, I study for my foundation degree, as well as completing multiple foundation competencies within the course.

Before starting the apprenticeship, I was highly proficient with the maintenance and rebuilding of bikes and motorbikes. After starting the apprenticeship, my skills have grown considerably to a higher level. I am now competent to maintain most aspects of a motor-vehicle, as well as stripping and rebuilding most engines. Other modules have greatly increased my use of tools and machinery.

I greatly enjoy working within the plant environment, getting to be treated like an adult, with all of the responsibilities and getting to integrate with the team. The staff within the working environment are all very friendly, laid back and welcoming. The only aspect that stops the apprenticeship being more enjoyable is the learning provider. The environment makes you feel captive. The relationship between staff members is often toxic and the rules set out aim to treat you like a child, when at 20 this can be quite patronising.

As soon as you join JLR, you are instantly treated as one of the valued members of staff by the company. All of the expectations of apprentices being treated like underlings and children were quickly dispelled upon joining JLR. All benefits and perks available to the staff are also available to the apprentices, making them feel well integrated into the team.

The plan is as well set out for a 6 year course as it can be. However, the course is constantly changing and being scrutinised so it is often hard to keep up to date with the current structure of the course. This often makes it difficult to organise any training for future dates. Any meetings, behavioural reviews and the likes are well communicated through the use of emails and google calendar.

Tutors are always available to help with any queries but more often than not it is better to use your own initiative than to seek help from the training provider. For instance: CAD lessons are a matter of trial and error as the CAD course is so new and rushed in for this year, that the tutor is as familiar with the software as the apprentices.

Any help, support or queries are quickly and expertly answered by any of the staff. The employer is more than happy to provide me with any training that is required for my job, any extra support that I need for the higher education aspect of the program and any plans for placements. All of the staff seem more than happy to help with support throughout the program.

The salary package is more than adequate for every aspect of day to day life. Within constant and consistent pay rises every six months, not to mention the generous holiday bonuses, the apprentices can have an excess of funds for any luxuries they should desire. The salary paired with the Ford privilege scheme easily covers transportation costs, since the program involves a decent amount of travelling/commuting.

Although there was much talk about activities outside of work at the beginning of the program, it is difficult to find any of these once actually working. There is an employee learning scheme which offers to contribute up to £200 to any external activities that the employee wishes to get involved with outside of work hours. This is currently going towards funding my snowboarding lessons.

Yes

the opportunity to earn while you learn and avoid any student debt is an opportunity too great to pass up. I would have never have expected to have moved out by the age of 19, and be driving a brand new Ford Fiesta, thanks to the generous salary. Most friends I have spoken to wish they had the opportunity to have their degrees paid for them, like at JLR.

There is very little advice that can be given for applying for Jaguar Land Rover. the application process is very long winded but it is straight forward and therefore it is hard to give advice for getting into the company. The only advice that can be giver is, stick with it, try your bets at the assessment day and most importantly, don't be disheartened if you don't make it! The application is so competitive, all you can do is give it your bets and that's all you can do.