Toolmaker Review

As a toolmaker, you mainly focus on repairing and maintaining the tooling dies that operate the press machines. Within the toolroom, there are different roles and machinery that you can use to complete your tasks. One example could be that there is a hole within a tooling die, so then you can weld over the hole and grind down the surface so that it is ready to operate again and create more car panels. Another example could be to adjust the balance of the tooling die or repair any electrical parts of the die that some tooling dies have. Toolmakers work within the toolroom and the press shop, so that they are able to work on smaller term breakdown projects within the press shop to get it back running again, or repair dies on a longer term project within the tool room. As I am in my first year, I am currently going to Swindon College full time and focus on my studies; however, in my second year I will begin placements within MINI Plant Swindon with full time placements in my third and fourth year.

I have already developed many new skills within Swindon College such as being able to work with pipework, electronics, soldering and much more. However, skills more useful to a toolmaker that I have learnt would include hand fitting activities, using a centre lathe, using a milling machine, learning to weld, being able to work with electrical cabling and PLC systems and looking at mechanical assemblies. All of these skills will help me improve my ability to work and problem solve within the work environment. This will also help me understand how machinery will work as well as different ways to maintain and repair systems in the workplace. By the end of this apprenticeship I will have earned a level 3 NVQ with the chance to achieve an engineering HNC.

I have highly enjoyed my program as I have been able to improve and develop new skills as mentioned before. Working within plant is very enjoyable as I get to learn new skills within the workplace and enjoy engineering activities. Learning new skills in college and completing my work to a high standard has also been good as I can test my ability and standard of work better than in a school environment, especially since my apprenticeship is course work based rather than test based. This means that most pieces of my work hold value. Working with the other apprentices in my year is good fun as they are all enjoyable to be around and have good personalities to work with. If any of us are in need, we are all available to help each other with any work and have good teamwork.

The induction to Swindon College is mostly organised, however it is usually difficult to be given a timetable at first. Once the first week is over, the college is mostly organised with enjoyable interactive lessons. Placements within BMW are well organised and involve you working at the standard day shift hours given at plant. However, due to COVID-19, organising college online lessons has more difficult.

At BMW, we receive great support at Swindon College and within MINI Plant Swindon. We have weekly meetings to discuss any issues we may have or to bring up things that have been done well. Within Swindon College, if we have any issues we can bring them up in our meetings and BMW will do their best to solve any problems, which for me has solved all problems I have had and made my college experience and apprenticeship very enjoyable.

We receive a good deal of support from Swindon College as we are given a course tutor and each lecturer there is happy to help with any problems or work you may struggle on. It is mostly easy to access support as you can email teachers with any problems or go to see them in college if you need any help.

I feel that my qualification helps greatly with my role, however since I am in my first year I have not yet entered the workplace. My qualification helps to improve my skills greatly as mentioned above and gives me better understanding of how machinery will operate and different ways to repair machinery such as tooling dies. Mechanical assemblies, hand fitting and written lessons such as learning about mechanical principles are very helpful within the engineering and manufacturing environment.

At the beginning of the year, you go on a trip to Skern Lodge as a team of your apprenticeship year to help with team building and give your year better teamwork. However, with our apprenticeship year this did not happen due to COVID-19. Our apprenticeship year still has a great sense of teamwork which will greatly help when we are able to join the mountain challenge. This is similar to the Duke of Edinburgh award where we are given a trail we need to follow and camp out for 3 days and 2 nights. There are also career's day events and other small events that can pop up for us to do.

Yes

A BMW Group apprenticeship is a great way to learn new skills and begin work in the engineering and manufacturing work environment at the same time. The year will pass fast from the amount of work you will complete, however there is a great sense of achievement in the work you complete. BMW will give you lots of support from your manager, to others on plant and other apprentices from others in your years and the previous years. Overall, this apprenticeship is a great way to learn new skills and experiences, with good support and pay to back it up.

The main piece of advice I would give others is that if you are coming straight from year 11 at school, be ready to work hard and complete lots of work early on around October/November time within college. This will make the rest of the year far easier and give you more time if more work is given to you. The application process to the apprenticeship can also take a long time as you can apply from Jan-March but will not have your interview until late May and then be given the role at early June. With the college work you will also need to spend time outside of college to complete your work so make sure that you are able to stay motivated and determined to complete your work to the standard you want. Make sure to complete your work as early as you are able to, as time flies while in the apprenticeship. Try your best to stay ahead of your work as this will allow you more opportunities and time in the future.