Level 3 Maintenance Apprentice Review

As a maintenance apprentice working at the Mini plant for BMW Group my work day involves working alongside a qualified maintenance team, where i will learn about the area they operate in, the equipment they maintain, the tools they use and fault diagnosis techniques they use to keep the production line moving efficiently.

I have been able to learn a variety of new skills on my apprenticeship, for example, effectively using machinery such as lathes, milling machines, pillar drills and grinders. i have also had the opportunity to learn how to drive and program ABB arm robots safely and to the companies required standard.

I enjoy my program to a large extent, this is because the work i do on my apprenticeship is technical and hands on which is the type of work i enjoy. Furthermore, i feel that my employer BMW Group is a very good company to work for because there are lots of opportunities for progression, many perks such as their car scheme and they look after you via regular check ins with managers to discuss wellbeing and progression, and plenty of support for college/uni work or general work/apprentice activities on site.

Overall, i believe that my programme is well structured for example in each year there are stages or processes which every single apprentice is required to completed in order to progress through the programme and in my own personal opinion i think that these stages are well structured and supported. However, i feel there could be better organisation/structure around transitioning from normal working hours to shift hours.

I receive a lot of support from my employer in terms of my well being, work activities, college/uni work and personal progression. Also my managers are easily contactable through email or work phones which makes it easy to discuss any concerns/issues, they also schedule regular check ins/reviews to discuss my well being, progression, work and college/uni activities.

The tutors employed by my training provider are very supportive in terms of working towards my qualifications. For example, they are always usually always available to talk to or message online if I have any issues with college or uni work which I find very supportive in an environment where I am learning and working at the same time.

My training through my training provider does help me significantly to perform better in my role. Not only is this because I am required to obtain these qualifications in order to be qualified but also because the learnt topics are relevant in my own work environment and helps to understand how machinery/systems operate.

There many extra-curricular opportunities at my work such as professional networking events and opportunities to visit schools and colleges to teach/inform students on what an apprenticeship is like at BMW Group and how it could benefit them. There are also outdoor activities such as the mountain challenge which encourages employees to take part in competitive hiking activities.

Yes

I would recommend BMW Group to a friend because its a good company to work for as there are many opportunities for progression in terms of personal development, qualifications and job roles. Also, I have made good friends with people i work with which makes working at BMW much more enjoyable.

When applying be honest and be yourself and remember to carry out your own research on why you would like to work for BMW Group as it shows you are keen, genuine and interested in the job you are applying for and also for the company you may work for.