Apprentice and woodshop associate Review

I work in the wood shop making many of the internal parts that the customer will see. You move around each department over the course of three years. Working one on one with the people in each department, you'll be trained how to do there specific job to a high standard. You get to work on production parts. Two days a week are spent in Chichester collage doing a furniture making course, that lasts the three years. The hardest part is the 6am start. ;-)

I had a basic understanding of wood work that I learnt in high school, however that was greatly improved through the collage course I was put on. Though starting out I knew nothing of veneer I now feel that I am relatively proficient. The only shortfall is only doing an nvq (national vocational qualification) as apposed to A levels or other practical qualifications such as a HND or HNC.

I very much enjoy the programme as it allows me to develop the skills that I enjoy. I got to meet many new people in work and collage

I definitely feel valued not just based on your pay! It is often reinforced that you are the future of the company. You are trusted with production parts that get to go into multi million pound cars. There are often smaller requests, for items that need to be made around the factory that a lot of the time go to the apprentices around the factory.

The main overview of the programme is structured over the three year course. This allows you to know when and where your are going next week e.g. Nine weeks on sanding followed by polishing. With this plan it gives you far more independence. This allows you to know when to move on without being told or needing to ask. Within each department however it is up to that department manager. Some departments have a very structured plan of what you do, and what you'll be able to achieve by the end of your time there. Others are less refined but you always achieve in the end. At the beginning and end of your time in each department you have a placement review/meeting to discuss how well you did in your previous department and what you'll achieve in the next.

Support is always there when you require it often it only needs to be from whoever your working with at the time. But will go as high as required if be necessary.

As above. Support is always there when you require it often it only needs to be from whoever your working with at the time. But will go as high as required if be necessary.

Although it changes year to in my first year I was on about £12,500, second £15,000 and third about £18,000. This covers my cost of living even though I moved away from home to go the Apprenticeship. You also get a lot of the perks of working for BMW such as the company car scheme that works a bit like a phone contract. The big one you don't get is the company bonus at the end of the year. I have easily survived on the pay by renting through Chichester colleges 'homestay' scheme which is where you rent as a lodger and have all you amenities look after, food, washing, Internet!

The opportunity and provided out of work are the collage course. in the local area you have goodwood and all the opportunity that go with that.

Yes

It has given me an incredible start in life. For me it was definitely the right choice and will have worked out much better that the standard college then work or collage then university. Not everyone is built for pure academics.

It's not purely about the skill you already have. They will be taught to you when needed. They are after hard working people who would fit with the rhythm of the factory, Rolls royce is not a standard factory environment due to the low production. A sense of humour of course will help!!