Toolmaker Review

The role of a toolmaker is to maintain the tooling dies within Plant Swindon. Toolmakers mainly use hand tools such as grinders, files and can also weld tooling steels when repairs are needed. Toolmakers can also be involved in callouts when there are issues on the press lines, using what you know to identify the issue and solve it quickly to keep production running.

I have learnt many new skills within this apprenticeship. Within my first year I had begun learning my competency skills of electronics, machining, basic hand fitting along with other skills. Once my second year had started, I begun to learn skills tailored to the toolmaking trade where I had learnt how to use grinders and develop existing skills.

Day to day the role can vary depending on the work you get given. Most days involve a good use of my skills, where you can learn small bits of information on the different jobs you work on. Learning theory within college and being able to put it into practice is very rewarding, putting your knowledge to use.

My programme is generally well organised with placements in different areas of the plant from the second year onward. These placements can last 3-4 months where our college days are organised to be one day a week, with the first year full time college. Within our placements we are given an overview our work for the day.

Our employer provides us with good support in both our college programme and also the placements we have within the workplace. For college, our employer can chase up any issues we may have. Within the workplace, we can bring up issues with our apprentice manager. One example could be that we can rearrange training dates to ensure they line up with our working days.

Our training provider provides us with good support in our education. Any additional help we require with our learning can be discussed and then helped if we require it either over teams online or an additional tutorial class at the end of the day, to ensure that we fully understand what we have learnt.

I feel that my qualification helps greatly with my role in toolmaking. Although mechanical principles is not used directly in my job, it still helps to have the theory behind forces and thermal stresses for example to apply that knowledge in a different way to how the press machine apply force on the tooling dies and how heat can affect material during welding. The other qualificaitons we are given, especially competency training in hand fitting and machining for example is very useful day to day.

Plant Swindon includes a range of extra-curricular activities such as school events but also a Skern Lodge trip when you begin the apprenticeship and a mountain challenge that is similar to DofE over the summer. School events can be local but also longer distance such as Chichester, where it gives you opportunity to visit different places.

Yes

The BMW group provides great support to apprentices, with a good salary and good working environment. Working with the people at Plant Swindon is great with the variety of skills and personalities, with lots of knowledge to gain through the education and workforce. The skills and qualifications gained can be used throughout my career.

When applying to the BMW Group, I would strongly recommend to research the role that you are interested in applying for. This way, you can show your knowledge of the role during application and get a better idea of what skills would help within the role. Also keep in mind that the application process for BMW Group apprenticeships can be lengthy with periods where it may take a week for responces.