Engineering Technician Review

As an Engineering Technican apprentice I was able to move around the business at Plant Swindon and be able to have work experiacne in each area of the Plant. Such as Toolroom, Planning, Quality and Measurement.Daily tasks of a technican is to try and improve business processes with machinery or assocaites. Working in the office on a computer screen creating information for managers to explain projects and daily tasks. In the later years of the apprenticeship I have lead meetings and presented in front of management.

I have learnt skills in computers such as excel and engieering softwares including CAD. In each job role I have been able to focus my learing into specific job such as leraring to use measurement systems such as a CMM or tooling machines such as a milling or lathe. Throughout the apprenticeship I have been put on training which has qualified me to be a first aider, fork lift driver and more.

The BMW apprenticeship helped me to become a working man, it has introduced me to older skilled people who I have learnt work based and life skills from. The Technician apprenticship offers variety on a day to day basis which keeps the working life intresting. As an apprentice you learn with your year group and I have made life long mates. A great program that teaches me and gives me money :)

As an apprentice you are introduced to management and if you are able to prove to them throughouut the years that you are a hard worker that knows the job you will offered a job. This is because BMW want new workers that can imporve the business and in the apprenticeship you are reminded of this. I have recieved praise form managers for completeing good work and have been introduced to other teams whcih have offered me placmeents, I feel wanted and sometimes needed at BMW.

At the beginning it is explained the program in detail and training is booked and informed in advance. The technican apprentiship starts with a year at college studying a Btec in level 3 engineering and completing an NVQ level 2. The following year was day release to college to finish the Btec and the rest of the week was placements at BMW swindon. In the third and fourth years of the appreniceship it is a full working week in 3 month placements. However I applied for the Foundation degree which I completed in the last two years of the apprenticeship. In the final year I was homed into a job role which I have now been offered.

The Swindon college training provider meets with me every few months to compelete a review, in this we discuss the apprentiship and new jobs and skills I am doing. We then talk about my progress and development and where I will be with my work by the next review with her.

My manager is very helpful in solving problems I have with work and personal life. She is easy to talk to and offers guidence whenever I need. To insure that I am working well in my work placemets I have placement reviews where I am able to discuss the work Ive done and explain how well the placment was.

The salary for a BMW apprenticeship is very acceptable. As a young man that doesn't own a house yet the salary has made me comfortable to be able to run a car, travel where I want and buy what ever I want. I have been able to save as well. The apprenticeship salary increases every 6 months after a pay review and in in my fourth year my salary is over £20,000.

Yes, I have taken part in an optional BMW mountain challenge that occurs every year - this is a charity event that puts teams together to compete. I have also taken part in promotional events to get the apprentiship known. During placements as a technican there is oppotunity to be able to travel to contracters and suppliers such as TATA steel to understand where we buy our material for.

Yes

The apprenticeship teaches you new skills and if you are able to learn and prove yoursefl you can get into the engieering industry with a range of skills and education. The apprenticeship offers an apprentice a chance to get a company car as well as the choice of a HNC or Foundation degree. BMW is a respected company and you are introduced to new people and an intresting varied job role.

Have a little knowledge of the BMW company and Plant you will be working for, this will help with any questions the interviewer will ask. Knowledge and education in product design, engineering, maths and physics is what will help you the most throughout the apprenticeship. I would also suggest putting into a CV or talking about in an interview your hobbies, having intresting hobbies such as sports or mechanics shows initiative and a competive spirit that will get you far in this company.