Apprentice Maintenance Technician Review

On a Monday we do our BTEC lessons. This starts at 8:00 until 17:00. This consists of two lessons where throughout the year we do different topics (such as electrical, health and safety, maths, mechanical principles, and more). For the rest of the week we are working in the workshop honing our practical skills. This could be using lathes, milling machines, PLC's, practising hand tool skills (different rotations of practical work throughout the year). Whilst in our workshop lessons we get the opportunity to be a team leader twice. This makes the responsibility on yourself for ensuring your team do their jobs, are working effectively, and tidy up properly at the end of the day.

You get the opportunity to try things and have the freedom to work with machinery and learn skills that you could never have the option to at a college or sixth form. The qualification achieved (BTEC Level 3 Extended) is only the beginning. After the first year you can progress on to higher education (Level 4/HNC), or even further afterwards. The only thing that is holding you back is yourself, the company will push you in all ways possible.

The work is difficult but it is rewarding. You get to integrate into a group of people you may have never met, but before you know it you'll have great new connections and plenty of laughs. The company expect you to be professional as this is a big step up from school, but there is an overwhelming sense of pride and gratification from being part of such a huge company where the possibility for growth within it is endless. I highly enjoy it (more than I thought I would) and definitely believe it was the best choice of employers I could have picked.

The structure is clear and well organised. There have been some training issues at the start of the year, but this had been resolved quickly. There is a full week of induction at the start of the year, and then the company send you and your new colleagues on a team-building residential week away. The training and support you get from the BMET tutors are brilliant. Highly knowledgeable people who are very approachable. If you ever need any support then the BMW management or BMET people are all available to give support, no matter what the issue is.

The interaction with your employer is a little more withdrawn within the first year as its more primarily focused upon the training and knowledge building. As reiterated before, if there are ever any issues then finding your manager and discussing the problem is no hardship at all. There are some fantastic people who look after the apprentices who will tirelessly work to ensure you are well looked after (whether it be pay issues, uniform requests etc).

There is adequate training for the BTEC lessons that provide you with a lot of knowledge and notes for using in the assignments. In regards also to the practical side of the qualification, the tutors are more than happy to support you if you are struggling, or even find you knowledge enriching activities to further your skills whilst you are on the rotation. Everyone is always available to help if you are ever in doubt.

The qualification is fundamental to progressing into the next year/s of the apprenticeship. The skills and knowledge you obtain in the first year is critical to help you perform in your role for when you are more closely tied to the maintenance roles in the second year and further. On a day to day basis there are plenty of things you can apply to every day life that will be obtained from your apprenticeship. For example, the interpersonal skills you acquire, the confidence you build, it all adds together to make you a more respectable and mature young person.

There are always activities going that are available, all that need apprentice participation. Fundraising activities, mountain challenges, football charity matches, career events, carnival participation and plenty more. All of these are available for participation and there is always something going on. The only thing that stops you from helping out is you! Participating in these kind of events benefits you massively and gives you recognition within the company that is highly valuable.

Yes

Simply because it is one of the best opportunities you could take. The fact you get paid (a decent starting wage which then rises every 6 months at reviews) to learn such an interesting topic with an almost guaranteed job at the end in such a respectable company is a massive advantage. Because the opportunity is so large, you could push yourself to be whatever you want, wherever you want. You could be in another country working with maintenance if you so choose. You could be a manager and working your way up even higher... Why not? And obviously the elephant in the room, the benefits of working at such a company are great. The pension scheme is generous, there is healthcare included on-site (gym, health professionals), and the best bit? The car scheme. Dependent on your age, you could find yourself driving a brand new Mini/BMW within weeks of starting.

Be clued up. They really test your knowledge throughout the process of interviewing as they're looking for the best. If you have time to do work experience within the company, then definitely do it - it stands you in very good stead. If you're a shy person, you really have to try and put it to one side for the interview process. Show yourself in the best way (acting professional, dressing professional) and they will notice.