Toolmaker Apprentice Review

The main role of a toolmaker is to maintain the quality of the tooling dies and assist in operation of press production. This can involve general maintenance, tightening bolts and cleaning down the tooling dies. Repairs are also often needing to be made, with the use of welding, grinding and other hand tool methods to repair the surface of the dies so that it can form and trim panels.

I have developed many skills from my third year, gaining lots of independence and given the freedom to carry out jobs on my own. The main skills I have developed are my TIG welding skills, along with grinding and organising my own work and time. I have learnt this year how to use an oxy-acetylene blowtorch to remove dents and punch damage on the tooling dies.

I do overall enjoy my apprenticeship as I am still able to learn one day a week at college with plenty of time in the other 4 days of the week to apply what I have learnt in my previous years and develop my skills in the workplace. However, some days can be repetitive.

My apprenticeship programme is reasonably well structured. We have placements where we move to different areas of the workplace once every 4 months with targets to make use of the new areas and learn either new working techniques, learn how to use new machinery or learn how to work in the new environment.

I receive lots of support from my employer, with an apprenticeship manager that I can contact directly for any problems regarding my college or workplace experience. I am also able to talk to my workplace manager for any help I may need with meeting my targets for my placements and learning new things in the workplace.

I receive a good amount of support from my training provider. Our new college swindon teachers are always open to receive any questions or give help for any of our assignments one to one during our lessons with a review to help us achieve the grade we are aiming for a week before our assignment is due. We do receive similar support with our NVQ and EPA however we could do with more guidance and more frequent check ins.

I feel that my qualifications do help towards my job role, especially for the level 2 btec functional skills and level 3 btec that we had learned in the first and second year. Though my job is hands on, having the understanding of mechanical principles does help out in the workplace. For the third and fourth year, the HNC does not apply to the job role as much for a toolmaker, but again having the knowledge can help with fault finding and thinking of ways to solve problems. The HNC would apply more to the maintenance role with its topics on electronics.

There are many extra-curricular activities in my workplace, including the newsletter team, charity champions team, BMW mountain challenge and plant tours. All of these activities are UK wide, meaning that you can easily network and gain connections to apprentices and people from other plants and learn new things whilst doing so.

Yes

BMW as stated before take care of you as an apprentice really well, giving you a more than fair pay and also developing you as a person along the way. You gain skills in more ways than simply the education and on the job training. Although the apprenticeship has gone by very fast, it has been worth it.

When applying, do keep in mind that the application can be a long time, with applications ranging approximately from February and not ending unit April-May time. Make sure to do your research on the company, what the plant you are applying to does and what your job role entails. Most of all be enthusiastic about this position and show why you are a good candidate.