Covering associate Review
at BMW Group UK
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Chichester
Review Submitted: July 2020
Overall Rating
2.9 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
2.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
I am a leather covering apprentice. I work on the shop floor and cover parts for rolls Royce’s throughout my apprenticeship I learn the process the car goes through from start to finish in the leather shop spending placements in all zones learning how to do it. I have worked with different people throughout the business and been able to learn a lot of didn’t aspects of the business which will help me massively when wanting to progress
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
I have enjoyed it, there’s been good parts and bad parts but that is with any job, I feel like my apprenticeship could have defiantly been planned out a lot better. My first year was very structured but the second not so much my last year has been my best as I have been able to experience other areas of the business and see what jobs I would be interested in going into when I finish
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Yes loaded of skills, I had never even used a sewing machine before I joined the company and now I am very confident in using one, once you have learnt basic covering skills it’s a skill you never forget and you will find covering any part for the car very easy once you know how. I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of different people around the business and my communication skills have improved massively
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
The first year was very structured but when I was in my second year I felt like I could have achieved a lot more than I did at times where associates are so busy you feel like your distracting them and I think we should have a certain person that is required to teach all apprentices. I did enjoy my apprenticeship though and I have learnt a lot of things I never thought I would have the opportunity to
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I have had a lot of support, I have a mentor who I can go to if I ever have any issues of questions to ask, all apprentices have a trainer aswell who always communicates to us if needed. my mentor has really helped me push myself and get myself in a position I want to be for when I finish my apprenticeship and start looking for jobs I would like to do in the future
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
We have a good amount of support, they have let us catch up on college work at work if needed which has been very helpful as where we work full time along with our college it can be difficult to get stuff done at times, they always help us if we need help and the best thing is our trainers are previous apprentices so they have good knowledge and understand things that we struggle with
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
I honestly don’t think my college qualification has much to do with my role at rolls Royce, I understand there are not many qualifications these days that you can do involving leather but a manufacturing course or business would defiantly been a lot more suitable and would have been more beneficial for us when we come to apply for other jobs around the business. There’s a limited about of skills I can transfer
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
I havnt personally but I have heard of people coming together to do these things, such as playing football together, I have made a lot of friends in the business to I spend a lot of my time with them but I have not done any activities. There are a lot of networking opportunities within the business now and every week they have a chance for you meet someone new and have a conversation with new people
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BMW Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It’s a nice job and the people make it very good as I get a long with everyone in the business, the money is also very good and the environment is nice, the only thing that you need to be prepared for is the shift work, it’s not the best and I havnt started yet as in your apprenticeship you only do early shift but if you’re happy to that then the job is suited to you
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BMW Group UK?
Work hard, don’t get distracted and always push yourself to get to know as many people and areas of the business you can, the more people you know the better your networking is and I think leads you to a lot more opportunities around the the business for when you finish your apprenticeship, if you do what is expected of you I believe you can process very well throughout the business. Work hard guys
