APEP Degree Apprentice Manufacturing Review
at JLR
Degree Apprenticeship
Manufacturing
Solihull
Review Submitted: March 2025
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
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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
I get to work at 7am and greet the team. I'll spend the day doing a mixture of University work, training and any tasks that my manager gives me. I get a 30 minute lunch break (amongst other coffee breaks) and head home at 3:30pm.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I really enjoy my program, but I will say there is a huge workload - balancing life and work and university can be tough. There are so many opportunities to partake in where you can develop as a person and meet new people. Granted, there is dull areas where the work you have wont be so interesting but the majority of the time work is engaging and great fun.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes, we have this big excel document called the Skills Matrix. This is where we log our skill level at various things in the workplace. Here there is also links to training documents/courses that I can partake in. There is a mixture of generalised training and role specific training. Skills that I have gained include CAD, GSPAS and process writing, IPS Problem Solving, Design for Manufacturability and much more.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The course has recently changed from 6 years to 4 years and this change is obvious. The company is still getting to grips with the new onboarding system and it feels like at the moment my work has been primarily university based. This can be frustrating as I want to get involved with more work projects but I cannot 100% commit to them.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My line manager and team are extremely supportive, I could not have asked for more when it came to settling into the business. My team are open to any questions I may have and I also have been partnered up with another apprentice who is in her 4th year to help me with any questions I might have. I have also been given plenty of time by my line manager to keep up with my university study.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The University of Warwick is a great place to study. All lecturers are extremely helpful and only want you to do well. Despite this, there are a few lecturers who are not as good as explaining as others but this is normal and might just be personal preference.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
So far there has been a lot of overlap between the content studied at university and what happens in the workplace. Most of the content is applicable and useful, despite this I still don't see where some of the maths is applied, however people in other areas of the business may use it.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Yes, the early careers page on teams is always advertising new activities to try and there are lots of clubs available to join. Despite the fact as an apprentice you don't have time to join university societies (even though you are allowed) there are way more opportunities and things you have access to as an apprentice.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend JLR to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great place to work and amazing people. So many opportunities to broaden your horizon and lots of clubs to join and meet people. Also, the apprenticeship course is definitely worth the effort over going to university, 0 debt, a salary on top, more experience and way more opportunities.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to JLR?
Be patient with the enrolment process, communication may not be great to start but persevere. Once enrolled the experience is amazing. The induction days at Silverstone were amazing and there are many more things happening just like that. As advice, don't give up. It is very hard work but it will 100% be worth the effort at the end of the course!
Industrial Operations: Manufacturing Undergraduate
at JLR
- Placement (10 Months+)
- Liverpool, Halewood.
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