Toolmaker apprentice Review

My job role is to maintain the press tooling at plant Swindon. I will either carry out general maintenance, that will involve general cleaning and visually checking for any errors or a full repair of a tool. In my apprenticeship I am trained to fix almost any problem with skills such as welding, basic machining and fitting (use of grinders, files, abrasive stones)

I have learnt many new skills in work and developed them from college. I am now a qualified MIG and TIG welder and can weld at a sufficient level. I also can use a large competently. I have also learnt very good communication skills and methods of completing documentation.

I enjoy my apprenticeship and job very much. The variation of work is what keeps me interested. Some days will be less interesting that others. But overall, the challenges I face and what I learn from them truly is the engineering career I wanted from the start

The general structure of the program is good, starting at college and moving to a more in work based apprenticeship allowed me to progress in a way that didn’t overwhelm myself. This apprenticeship has allowed me to complete many placements both in my department with some exceptions outside of my department to give me insight to departments I will be working closely with. The only downside to the structure can be that not everyone involved in my apprenticeship can be aware of my placements. However this can be fixed with myself going to see the department managers to let them know that I will be working with them a couple days before

I receive a lot of qualification related support from my employer. They are very helpful and helped me with structuring my workloads whenever needed. They have not however given masses of support with my in work actual job activities. At the stage I am now, I don’t feel I need that support anymore.

I receive a lot of support when working towards my qualifications. During my first years in college I could refer to my lecturers for help and advise on work. My training provider in work was not as knowledgeable on those subjects but could still help me find a way to help me complete that work to a good standard. In the later years towards completing my NVQ level 3 and EPA (end point assessment) I found my training provider was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable in the areas I needed help with e.g. tooling

My qualifications have helped in little areas that I may not have known before such as electrical wiring. My later qualifications helped me reflect on the know I had learnt with the repetition possibly solidifying that knowledge. I feel the qualifications have aided my performance and are good to have in the case that I wanted to take my career in a slightly different direction

Yes. I had previously been involved in the mountain challenge, a orienteering walking activity which I very much enjoyed each year I had completed it. We don’t not have any particular sports teams but there have been activities here and there which I have taken part in and enjoyed

Yes

In terms of engineering, this is a very interesting, informative and technical career. Which has taught me a lot about the business and how a factory works. In addition to my job role, toolmaking. I am always happy to go into work every time as the people in Plant Swindon are what make is whole. It’s an interesting career with constantly new challenges to me, in addition to this it is very rare that I meet someone who isn’t friendly and I don’t feel comfortable talking to. I feel very at home within BMW Swindon and its an excellent place to work

To show what you can do. Be respectful of others, be a team player and ask lots of questions. Showing interest, I believe will take you much further than showing off. In the long term an interest for the business and the determination to make a real part of the team is the best advice I could give to someone looking to find a career in BMW