Business Apprentice Review

As a first year apprentice, an overview of my role is that I get involved with important projects and tasks assigned by my manager and I actively participate in important meetings. These projects provide me with valuable opportunities to deepen my understanding of the business and it allows me to make meaningful contributions. I also spend one day a week working towards my degree qualification.

I have had the opportunity to learn and develop my IT skills, such as coding and software applications. Additionally, I have actively worked on improving my communication skills. These developments have not only broadened my skills set but have also strengthened my overall professional competency.

I have enjoyed every minute of my apprenticeship at BMW. I feel very supported in my professional and personal development and it has been a rewarding experience being exposed to so many opportunities. I enjoy moving from placement to placement as I get exposed to the rest of the business continuously improving my skills and engaging with talented individuals I can gain valuable knowledge from.

My programme is structured well and is quite flexible. There is a plan put in place for me effectively designed to help achieve all my learning goals by the time my apprenticeship is finished, but I also have a say in what I would like to learn and how I would like to develop my skills which I am very grateful for.

I receive excellent support from my employer. I am always provided with the necessary resources and guidance to excel in my role. I know where I can go if I have any questions or need support with my work or studies.

I receive a lot of support too from the University. Right from the start of my course, I was assigned a tutor and we have regular 1-1s where we discuss my assignments, building my portfolio and areas for improvement are highlighted which gives me something to work towards. I can contact them at any point if I need their support.

Due to the qualification I am working towards I have played more of an active role at work. It certainly helps me to perform better in my role as it allows me to use the theory I have learnt in a real life work situation such as trying out different communication/leadership styles on the team to achieve a common goal.

There are lots of different activities to get involved with, especially for apprentices. There is an apprentice newsletter team I take part in to highlight our goals and achievements and there are many charity events we can get involved with.

Yes

I would highly recommend working at BMW Group because everyone is welcoming and supportive. Being a degree apprentice at BMW has many perks and I do feel valued as an apprentice. I get sufficient time and help to study from both my employer and training provider and there are so many opportunities from working here. I always look forward to what challenge I am faced with next as I know I have ample amounts of support and guidance and I am always learning something new.

Main tips are make sure you do lots of research about the company, be confident and ask as many questions as possible. There are lots of applicants every year so make sure your CV and application stands out from the rest and ensure you are well prepared for the assessment centre.