Control Engineering Apprentice Review

3 days of the week are spent at BMW MINI Plant Oxford, in the apprenticeship workshop. Here we are taught basic engineering knowledge and skills, covering topics such as welding, electrical installations, fluid power, and machining. Another day in the week is spent upstairs, being taught the foundation year for the level 6 degree, where topics covered involve, pure maths, electronic principles, programming, circuit theory etc. One other day in the week is spent doing 'admin' work, where any work set from either the workshop, level 6 course, or extra work can be done, to reduce workload throughout the rest of the week.

Skills that have developed my existing knowledge include welding, pure mathematics, electronic principles, and hand fitting. I would say I already had a fairly good grasp of these, but being here has developed them somewhat. I had little experience with programming and circuit theory, so the level 6 foundation year has taught me alot with that, especially the tutor, who is always helpful. The level 6 PLC topic is completely new to me, and I have learned a little from my tutor, although I have researched it myself mostly. However, some of the rotations can feel a bit basic, as I feel I already know quite a bit on certain topics.

I do enjoy the course that i am on, however there are a few problems with it. with regards to the workshop, the rotations can sometimes feel very slow paced, and information can often be dripfed. this can make things boring at times, and if you are finished with work early sometimes all you can do is wait until others have caught up. the tutors are always helpful and will give you new tasks to do if they have them, but it often seems as though they are quite stretched, and cannot teach the classes different things at the same time. the level 6 programme is good, but it also seems as though the tutor is always stretched to do lots of work. he always devotes as much time as possible to the class and his teaching is great, but he always has alot to do.

On the surface, the course seems to be organised. the level 6 foundation year is mostly well structured, with the main tutors work always clearly set out, and well structured. however, it does not seem like he has much support, as he is always got lots of work to do. only recently has a second tutor come in and the second tutors work is not so structured, as it seems the class is behind from the class up at Birmingham. The course downstairs is also somewhat organised, with each tutor providing a well set out structure for their work. however, when one tutor was ill, there was no cover for them from the college, so one class was put on standstill for a week. there also appeared to not be a machining tutor for when another class was meant to begin machining, which has caused some of the groups to be behind. Furthermore, there is some uncoordination with the workshop course and the level 6 course. the foundation year PLC module has begun, and the tutor makes alot of assumptions that we should have prior knowledge to plcs. there is a PLC rotation in the workshop, and if we were to have that rotation before beginning the PLC module, we would have the prior knowledge to understand the tutors lectures. overall, there seems to be a unsuitable amount of staff, and the staff available are currently doing their best with what they have, but the coordination and management is poor.

BMW offers a great support system, with staff that are welcoming and easily approachable if a problem arises. There are meetings scheduled every few months for you to discuss any issues with management, who always take on board what you say. A few of the minor issues raised have been addressed, however some of the larger issues are yet to be resolved, but some of these I am not sure BMW has control over, regarding the program provider.

All of the tutors are very approachable, and provide the necessary support needed to complete all of the work. they are very understanding, and can adapt their teaching style to different levels for different individuals. The supporting tutor for the level six course can at times be difficult to understand, as he does not always know how to explain things in simple terms, and so support can be difficult to get from him. reviews about the course occur every few months, but these do not seem very productive, as any concerns I think of raising I don't think will be addressed.

This question does not seem very applicable to me as I am in my first year of my apprenticeship. My role currently resides in the training school, and I do not yet have the qualification, so it does not affect the way in which I work, or the intensity of my work.

There is a work socials chat, where apprentice socials are posted. I have been to a social with a few of my friends, but it was only us that went. extra curricular activities have mostly been organised by myself and my friends, including a 5 a side team that we participated in briefly. I have also begun to get involved in the OX4 racing team, which I am hoping to have a more active role in when it starts up again.

No

Overall, I do not feel like a can recommend BMW group to a friend as I haven't had a well rounded enough view of the company to make a decision. Some aspects of the company are really good, but the management with the provider lets it down. I am also not certain of what my job role will entail, what a day in the life of a control engineer looks like, and job availability, so this makes me uninformed to make a decision. To have a clearer opinion on the company I believe I need to have explored the departments better, and not just the training school. In second and third year my opinion will be more developed and understanding of the company, but as of now the teaching provider does dissuade me.

Make sure you have a particular interest in engineering in general, it doesn't have to be automotive but you should have an interest. You should also be open minded about what department you think you might want to work in. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the paint shop on a recent tour of it, and am now excited to have a more in depth tour of the other areas.