Maintenance Apprentice Review

As a maintenance apprentice within BMW Group Swindon, our main job role is to keep the machinery that produces the car panels running. We maintain, investigate and fix breakdowns that occur during the production hours. We work with a range of equipment such as Press machines, robots and welding facilities.

Since starting at BMW group, I have learnt lots about how the factory processes operate, how BMW group works together and my responsibilities as maintenance. There are many training opportunities that come up that we all get involved in. By completing different training programs and being trained by the personal around me, I get a wide range of skills and views on how to fix different equipment.

I enjoy my apprenticeship very much. To be able to learn everyday on the job is one thing, but to get paid to be at work and also have my education paid for is brilliant. Getting lots of training and learning opportunities help me develop as a person and gain confidence that will stick with me for a lifetime.

There will always be good days and bad days in any business but BMW has been very good with how my apprenticeship has been structured from the start. Training can sometimes be given at short notice if spaces come up but this is good as the opportunity can be a great experience.

Whenever I have a query or question about my day to day job, the people around me within the business are always very helpful and eager to help me. The maintenance personal answer my questions in good detail so that I can understand the jobs I am completing and how the machinery should operate. Training management are very good at keeping an eye on us and providing support when we struggle with college or placement work.

The training department are very good at keeping an eye on us during college as the amount of work can get overwhelming if not kept on top of. However, work timing schedules have been made in the past for apprentices that are struggling with their time management so that they have a good amount of time to complete work. Everyone wants you to pass and to get through, so they will do whatever they can to help you.

All the qualifications I have been training and completing over the years will help me become the best maintenance personal I can for the business. The qualifications allow me to open up more doors of opportunities to rise or move throughout the business and to travel when the times come up. The more I learn in my qualifications, the better I can perform my job every day.

So far this year I have already had to opportunity to take part in many charity and social events for the business and wider local community. Charity events such as Christmas jumper days and bake sales help support big and small charities of our choice. The Tiny Forest project has been my favorite so far as it helps the environment of our local community improve for years to come.

Yes

Because BMW Group gives me the time and opportunities I need to become the best maintenance personal I want to be. However high or wide I want to move within the business, as long as I put in the effort, I can get so many chances to better myself with extra educational qualifications, training and experiences.

One of the main things I would mention is that the application process is a timely process. It will take a long while for BMW Group to get back to you after the initial applications have been sent due to the application window being so long and the amount of applications that have to be processed. So do not worry if you do not hear anything back for a few months, as you will receive a email one day to let you know if you're through to the next few stages. If you get through to the testing stages, I cannot recommend enough to complete the practice tests first before the real ones as they help so much for what to expect and give you the best chances for the real tests as you can only do the proper test once.