Maintenance apprentice Review

My mature maintenance apprenticeship is based in the sub assembly and press shop areas of Mini plant Swindon, my day to day roles involve maintaining robot cells and press lines to ensure the production line runs as smooth as possible, fault finding and problem finding within the areas and recording breakdowns or any issues found on the maintenance data base.

During my time as an apprentice I have developed numerous new skills, including fault finding techniques, robot programming, milling and turning (lathes and milling machines) basic electrical installation , welding, electronics and PLC’s. I am studying NVQ level 2/3 and Btec level 3 and have also applied to study towards a HNC in engineering during my last year.

I have really enjoyed my time as a mature apprentice at Mini plant Swindon and am very grateful for the opportunity, it has been great to go back to college, meet new people, gain new experiences while developing new skills and gaining a greater understanding a of maintenance and engineering within the business.

I feel extremely valued in my apprenticeship, my college tutors and management team at work are always on hand to offer any help or assistance that I may require and often complement me on the quality of my of work. I was lucky enough to be awarded apprentice of the year last year and feel very honoured to be given this award.

I feel that the apprenticeship at Mini plant Swindon is well structured and thought out, at the very start of the apprenticeship we were taken to Skerne lodge along with other BMW plants from around the UK, to get to know the other apprentices and increase our team building skills, the first year at college was well organised, all members of staff were always willing to help and offer advise if requested. I am currently in the second year of my apprenticeship and am based at plant Swindon with day realise to Swindon College, the help and support at plant Swindon from all the maintenance team and management is first class and I could not ask for more.

The support that I receive from my training advisor is very good, they are always on hand when I need help or advice during my time at college.

The support that I receive from my employer is excellent, I feel that I always have support when I need it, whether it is in works time or out of hours, I am often given guidance but also encouraged to think for myself without worrying about the consequences (within reason) I have also been given support from my employer for issues that are not related to work and fully appreciate the help that was given.

Before I applied for this apprenticeship I was working as a lead associate in the sub assembly area at Plant Swindon, I worked on a three shift pattern and had to take a cut in my pay when I started my apprenticeship, this was hard initially but have now adapted to the pay. I am still on my base rate of pay and really appreciate the opportunity that I have been given.

Part of my apprenticeship is to go to numerous events and open evenings to talk about the apprenticeship and my experiences of it, I always enjoy these events and like to tell people how good the apprenticeship is at BMW group, It is nice to see that the public think very highly of BMW and often show interest in the apprenticeship schemes.

Yes

BMW group have given me employment for nearly 25 years and has enabled me to have a good life style and develop a great circle of friends inside and outside of work, being on the mature apprenticeship has given me a great opportunity to start a fresh path in my career, meet new people and gain new experiences, all while enjoying my working day.

If you are interested in an apprenticeship at BMW group I would advise that you show a keen interest in engineering and try and develop a basic knowledge of the subject, maths is a main part of your course at college, especially in the first year and would recommend brushing up on your math skills before applying.