Toolmaking Apprentice Review

Currently in the second year my day-to-day role involves working on the apprentice training section within the tool room learning basic handing fitting skills with manual and pneumatic tools, learning basic machining, performing routine maintenance checks on the press tools and working with sheet metal cutting and bending.

Over the course of my second year I have learnt many new skills. I have learned how to use pneumatic hand tools like die grinders, discers and pencil grinders to grind a flat surface. In addition to this, my communication skills have been greatly developed as you will often have to speak to various people within the tool room to obtain information or for them to help you with something.

I really enjoy my apprenticeship program. I get to work within a great team of experienced people who have been doing the job I am learning over the last 30-40 years. The team work is also very good we often have group jobs and everyone makes sure to do there part and get the job done.

The program is very well organised, before working on the training area in the tool room our mentor gave us a health and safety induction showing us the health and safety requirements for the area. Also, before performing any job for the first time he will demonstrate and go through the specific health and safety requirements for that task. We are set targets by our placement manger which we have 3 months to complete. These make sure we learn the key skills needed for our job role.

The level of support received at BMW is fantastic. Every week we have a weekly catch up meeting with our training manager. She makes sure that we are on track with all of college work and how everything is going within the tool room. We also get asked if we have any problems or concerns regarding anything which are always resolved if there are any.

The level of support from the training provider is acceptable but improvements could be made. We don't really have a course tutor so if there are any issues with the training provider we report straight to our training manager. Some of the units studied are quite difficult and require extra help this is sometimes provided but not all the time.

The majority of the information I have learned during my apprenticeship training has been useful to me within my day-to-day role. I have expanded my knowledge further than just what I need to know and learned about all aspects of engineering. This in turn has given me a better understanding of my own role.

Yes there are many extra-curricular activities to take part in. For children in need the apprentices dress up in fancy dress and go around the site collecting donations, first year apprentices go to Skirn Lodge for a week to take part in team building and network with other plants and finally, we take part in the mountain challenge every year which is a competition between all the plants to see who can hike a mountain the quickest.

Yes

I would recommend applying to become a BMW apprentice to a friend as the skills you will learn here are unmatched. Also, the team you get to be apart of is amazing everyone is so helpful, wants you to succeed and do well within the business. The qualifications you receive will allow you to go anywhere in the world.

The recruitment process is lengthy, you must be very patient as it can take 4 to 5 months with various stages including online testing, assessment days and interviews. Go out and get some experience with engineering before applying as this will greatly help you in the application process.