Control Engineer Apprentice Review
at BMW Group UK
Degree Apprenticeship
Automotive Engineering, Manufacturing
Oxford
Review Submitted: June 2024
Overall Rating
4.4 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
When working on the shop floor the job role includes responding to breakdowns and fixing them in a safe and timely manner, this can be as simple as resetting the production sequence, or more complex such as changing a motor. As well as line running tasks, you may also be included in project work to improve a process.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I highly enjoy the apprenticeship. There is a good balance of work and study, and they both complement each other in that the study helps further your understanding of certain topics / tasks encountered when completing the maintenance work. The work environment is enjoyable to operate in, the is a good sense of teamwork and it is easy to meet new people.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
The majority of the skills required for the apprenticeship are those that have been learnt / developed due to the training provided as part of the apprenticeship. Most of the skills therefore have been completely new to me, an example being machining which I have learnt from scratch. Some skills, such as programming, I have had previous experience of, but have developed by learning to program in different languages.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The whole structure of the programme works well, the first year is spent in the training school developing all of the basic skills and knowledge that you will need in the remaining three years of the apprenticeship. Year 2 is spent rotating around the different production facilities to experience how they all work, and allowing for you to decide your favourite for the third and fourth years where you get to integrate properly with the maintenance teams.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from my manager, they are always available to answer any queries / assist with any problems I may have. I have regular meetings with my manager where I can raise certain topics that may be concerning me both inside and outside of work and study.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider provides a good level of support throughout the apprenticeship with both study and work related topics, although the support is mainly aimed at the study side. The on-site tutors are always available to support with the college topics both inside and outside of the lesson time, they are very helpful when it comes to understanding the course topics and assessments.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The qualification provides good background knowledge of topics relevant to the day-to-day working tasks of maintenance and control engineers, helping to better your understanding of breakdown scenarios and how best to resolve them. Naturally some of the modules that you study are not as relevant to the job role, however they give a good background knowledge that will help you later in your career.
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 are plenty of extra-curricular activities to be apart of while you are an apprentice. There is the charity champions team in which you are responsible for organising fundraising events to raise money for the BMW Plant Oxford house charity, these events tend to be a mix of sport and social activities that anyone can be participate in.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BMW Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The BMW group is a good employer that provides valuable training and experience that helps you to develop personally and professionally within your chosen field. There are plenty of opportunities to network with other individuals within the group, both within and outside of this country, allowing you to progress your career in whichever direction you choose.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BMW Group UK?
Advice for applying to the BMW group would be to focus / demonstrate your interests, strengths, experience and attitude. Often showing you have a good attitude by showing you are keen to learn and improve your skills is important as well as demonstrating you can work and communicate well as part of a team.
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