Business Apprentice Review

At the start of my apprenticehsip i would spend around 3 months at various departments aroung the plant including programme planning, logistics planning, finance and assembly planning. I did a placement with the industrial engineering team and then arranged a succession plan with the lead I.E. I now carryout I.E daily tasks such as MTM studies and improvement projects.

I have learnt very many new skills through my qualifications and work placements. I improved my IT skills and basic business understanding during my NVQ L3 Business administraion course. i have developed my understaning of logistics, supply chains and lean manufacturing during my logistics foundation degree at aston university. I have gained knowledge of the general working of the plant through my placements.

I enjoy the variety of my job. I work on a different area of the palnt every day, communicating with different people learning new things. Exposure to all of these processes and people has had a very poisitive effect on my ability to carry out my daily tasks and acheive in my job.

At the start of my apprenticeship there was very little structure and i wasnt made aware of any plan for my three years. I had to create my own plan about a year in when it became clear i wasnt going to recieve a well thoughtout plan that would get me to the compentency level i needed to be at at the end of my apprenticeship.

Throughout my apprenticeship i have recieved a mixed level of support. The department that looks after apprentices is good at supporting small queries and issues with college/universities. However, little support is given in regards to apprenticeship placmeent plans. This is an area that the departments needs to improve for the next set of apprentices.

I have always recieved adequate support when it comes to my qualifications. Whether is was my NVQ at BMET, my degree at Aston University or other BMW courses in oxford. Both the training adivsor at BMW and the training providers have always been willing to provide support with any issues.

My qualifications help me perform better in my role, especially my lean manufacturing modules from my degree. This has completely changed the way i look at the work i do and how the processes is audit everyday can be improved. My IT training has also been valuable ad it has increased the speed at which i complete my work.

Every year i attend the BMW Mountain Challenge. This is a weekend long event during the summer where teams of up to 6 BMW employese compete to collect clues whilst hiking in UK national parks. The weekend involved team work to map routes to collect clues, set up camping gear, cook food together and grow as a team.

Yes

BMW has offered me so much since i joined in 2016. The qualifications and skills i have gained whilst working here will carry me through my career. There are incredible benefits for working at BMW that i believe few companies can compete with. After my apprenticeship is compelte there is nothign stopping me continuing my career all across the world.

Prepartaion is key for interviews. Put as much effort and detail into the competency questions as possible as they will be very useful during assessment days. Research the plant you are applying for but also BMW as a whole. Look into what each of the other plants across the world do.