Engineering Technician Review

As a second-year degree apprentice, my schedule involves working and learning within various placements within the business from Monday to Friday, with Wednesdays dedicated to attending university. I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed the diverse range of placements I have had the opportunity to experience within the company so far. It has been incredibly fascinating to learn about the inner workings of different business functions and how the business operates. One aspect that has particularly stood out to me is the chance to actively participate in each department and contribute to driving positive change within the business. Having a role within the different placements that allows me to make an impact directly with the cars and business has been incredibly fulfilling. I have loved the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to real business scenarios.

Since starting my placements within the business, I have had the opportunity to acquire a wide range of new skills. One aspect that I have particularly enjoyed is learning how to flash cars and uterlising various software to run scripts for testing purposes. It has been fascinating to delve into the technical aspects of the vehicles and understand how they operate and the different parts of the car. In addition to the technical skills, I have also gained valuable insights into the structure of the business. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of different departments and how they collaborate to achieve common goals has been interesting. This knowledge has given me a good view of the organisation and how each department fits together. Furthermore, I have developed a strong foundation in conducting analysis tasks and problem-solving techniques to address quality-related issues within different placements. This experience has equipped me with the necessary skills to tackle challenges and find effective solutions. Overall, I have learnt lots so far and I'm excited to learn more.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my program thus far, particularly the practical aspects that involve working with placemats and having a hands-on approach, such as driving cars. It has been incredibly fulfilling to actively engage in these hands-on experiences. However, I have noticed that the workload within different departments can fluctuate significantly, which is understandable considering the nature of the business. Nevertheless, I do feel that there are certain areas where the program's structure could be improved, especially in terms of the academic side. Unfortunately, the academic program has been a mixed experience for me. There have been instances where the quality of teaching has not met the required standards, and the management of the academic program has been subpar. There have been issues with poor planning and a lack of necessary changes being implemented. It is my hope that these concerns will be addressed and improvements will be made to enhance the overall quality and management of the academic program. I believe that a well-structured and effective academic component is crucial for the success of overall.

In general, the structure of the program has been good. I am pleased with the placement plan I have been provided, as it offers me the opportunity to explore various areas within the business. While the structure within placements may have some room for improvement, I understand that the dynamic nature of the business often leads to new tasks arising on a daily basis. I have enjoyed the diversity of work that this brings. However, from a business perspective, it would be beneficial to have more advanced knowledge of my placement plan. Having a clearer understanding of what lies ahead would allow for better preparation and planning. On the other hand, I must admit that the structure of my academic program has been lacking. There have been areas where improvements could be made to ensure a more organized and effective learning experience. It is essential to have a well-structured academic component to complement the practical aspects of the program.

The support from my employer during my apprenticeship so far has been very good. They have demonstrated a good commitment to addressing any concerns or queries I may have had. They are usually very prompt with responses and this has allowed me to have a smooth and productive learning experience. I feel reassured knowing that I can rely on my employer to provide the necessary guidance and support whenever needed. They are usually proactive at addressing any concerns that I have had which has allowed me to focus on my development within the program. However, it would be nice for our group leader to have more direct involvement which would allow better understanding of our concerns and day to day needs.

We have received very little support from our training provider, with only one review scheduled every three months. The quality of teaching in certain areas has not met the required standard, and our training provider has been slow in implementing any necessary changes or make any changes at all. However, it is important to note that direct support from some lecturers has been commendable, as they make efforts to address our concerns to the best of their abilities.

Although, the qualification has been interesting and has allowed me to expand my knowledge in many areas I feel it does not help me preform my job on a day to day basis within my department. The practical element completed in the workshop in first year has helped me somewhat complete practical tasks within my department. However, theory wise I fell it has little benefit.

There are a few extra curricular activities we can participate in. We can contribute to the apprentice newsletter, charity champions as well as help out with apprentice SharePoint. There are few social events but some have been organised through charity champions for charity.

Yes

Overall, although the academic qualification is lacking in places and has not been extremally relevant to my job and with the teaching being poor in areas, the business side doing placements in different areas has been great. I have learnt an enormous amount sines starting and have been given many exciting opportunities including travel internationally. Contributing to change within departments has been extremely rewarding and has allowed for positive change. I have learnt lots about the company as well as how our cars work in depth so overall I would definitely recommend the program.

I would highly recommend applying to anyone. Although there is room for improvement in certain aspects of the academic side, the overall course has been incredibly enjoyable. In my opinion, it serves as a fantastic alternative to attending university. BMW offers a cooperative salary with excellent benefits and perks, and the learning opportunities are abundant. Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend applying.