Controls Engineer Apprentice Review
at BMW Group UK
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Oxford
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
3.7 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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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:
4/5
Monday is a dedicated day for paperwork, allowing time for assignments, logbooks and degree catch up. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are workshop days which are practicing and learning skills in 6 week rotations around the workshop. Thursday is dedicated to my foundation degree which is learning engineering units from tutors.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
At the start of the apprenticeship I could tell there was a separation between my training provider and the company I am employed by, There was a lack of communication between them. This caused stress and uncertainty. The training provider wouldn't listen to suggestions. BMW group were very organized unlike the training provider. The apprenticeship has improved now we know what is going on and the training provider is listening to our suggestions. I enjoy it a lot now.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learned how to programme PLC's effectively to perform tasks to a specification, I have developed my electrical and electronics skills, I have practiced hand fitting and machining skills with safe and effective procedures. I have learned how to MMA weld effectively to a standard which can be used in industry.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The structure from my employer is almost perfect whereas the training provider was very unorganised and non communicative. There were expectations which were not clear in the hiring process. It was made out to be my own fault when the training provider found out I had not got an A-Level in Maths.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer is very supportive and constantly reassures that there is help for anything we need. They listen to suggestions and may sometimes give us responsibility on implementing the suggestions. There is a lot of mental health support pushed to us. There are regular meetings allowing dialogue between the employer and employees.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
There is a lot of support from our training provider compared to our employer. The tutors are brilliant and are more than happy to help, however the training provider team seems almost completely uninterested in supporting us. We have been complaining about a certain tutor and his incapability to teach however this is always swept under the rug and nothing has been done about it.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The tutors help to integrate our roles in the workplace into the units we are being taught with real world examples or tailoring questions to a workplace style question. This helps us learn how we will use the skills we are learning and get a picture of what we will be doing in the workplace.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There is a football team which is open to all apprentices which is done after work on a Tuesday. There is a charity team which host fundraising events for the apprentices to donate to a charity. There have been events such as a charity football game or a charity quiz.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BMW Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Decent pay and support from the employer with a direct way into the industry.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BMW Group UK?
In your application you should include and show characteristics that follow the BMW group qualities. Show how your experiences can link to the qualities. Be a team player with the ability to lead a team as well. Responsibility, Appreciation, Transparency, Trust and Openness are the 5 BMW group qualities you should show.
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