Toolmaker Review

My role involves carrying out planned and reactive maintenance on the tooling which forms the panels for BMW Group. When completing planned maintenance, I will clean and inspect the working surfaces to ensure good working order and for the reactive maintenance, this can involve responding to production breakdowns and rectifying quality issues.

Throughout my apprenticeship, I have been given the opportunity to learn numerous new skills and have been on training courses to further develop skills within my role. Some of these courses include: forklift truck, shunter, gas bottle and abrasive wheel training. Not only does this develop my personal skills but, also ensures that I carry out these skills safely.

I have found that the work environment is very friendly and understanding towards apprentices due to that fact that the majority of people working here have completed an apprenticeship of their own. This creates an environment where apprentices can learn and develop with skilled workers. As such, it creates a more enjoyable experience whilst learning the required skills.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you are placed onto different placements throughout the business to give a better understanding of different roles and responsibilities. For each placement, there is a set amount of time given (usually 4 months) and reviews are given after each placement where behaviors, skills and future targets are discussed.

My employer provides weekly meetings to check on my workload, my external training and to give me a space to discuss any problems I might be facing. Meetings are also held at the end of each placement so my performance can be reviewed and support can be given. A safe space is also provided within my employers office where I know I can come with any issues and I will be listen to and problems will be dealt with promptly.

I have just completed my NVQ (on the job training qualification) and my assessor had set up weekly meetings to ensure progress was being met and that I was on the right track throughout. Now I have moved onto the End Point Assessment for my apprenticeship and my new assessor has provided set days every month where I am able to have time to completed the required work with support from my assessor.

As I am currently completing qualifications which are based on my job role, this is very relevant to my job as I am using tasks I have completed at work to give as evidence for my qualification. I have also been given the opportunity to further my education with a HNC Level 4 in General Engineering which has further pushed my knowledge in the engineering environment.

I have been a member of an apprentice newsletter team in which apprentices from all BMW Group UK sites come together to write articles and create a newsletter which is sent to the wider BMW Group network. Other activities include charity work for the BMW chosen in house charity in which events across the year are held such as Christmas parties.

Yes

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far in my role and I have learnt so many new skills and behaviors which has matured and changed me for the better. The skills I have learnt has set me up for my career and I am feeling confident with my future at BMW Group.

Applications can be very daunting especially with the video style interviews held at the first round of the application which can put people off applying. However, the questions asked cannot be planned for so there is no need to worry as everyone else applying is in the same position as you.