Maintenance technician Review
at BMW Group UK
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Automotive Engineering
Oxford
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
2.8 /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
3/5
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Skills Development
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
my role consists of the upkeep and running of the factory on a day to day basis. this includes carrying out maintenance, PM's, refurbishments, and installs. my other responsibilities include keeping up with paperwork, and staying on top of college work. I also spend time shadowing maintenance to learn how to better carry out my job.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I thoroughly enjoy my program. it is interesting and fun most days of the week, there are some days which are slower than others but this is to be expected in any manufacturing environment. It is a job which is best catered to someone who is proactive and interested in engineering, and having these interests will greatly increase the enjoyment you get out of the apprenticeship.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I've developed many skills in different engineering disciplines. I have developed skills in topics including fluid power, PLC's, mechanical, electrical, electronics, machining and other various tasks. I have also developed skills in things such as teamwork and communication. you will also develop skills in things such as time management.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
the program from BMW's side is very well structured, in the first year it involves 12 months of training within the on-site workshop. this training is provided by Bmet college who can often be slow and training is often badly managed. however, in the second year you will spend 15 months doing 3 month rotations throughout the business which are very well planned.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
my employer provides lots of support. the management team are extremely helpful and want to see you exceed throughout your entire apprenticeship. i found that whenever i am struggling or need assistance they are more than happy to help. you are always able to speak to them. in addition to this, they plan reviews every 6 months which are very useful to catch up.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
our training can be very mixed, one tutor is extremely helpful and supportive, he provides all the support needed and ensures that we stay on track. on the other hand, the other two tutors are significantly less helpful, one tutor in particular has a tendency to provide very poor marking with it varying between apprentices. this leads to some apprentices passing and some falling despite producing the same answers.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
1/5
the qualification is mostly unusable for the role. overall it gives you a decent grasp of engineering, however its barely usable within the workplace. the most usable thing that we learnt about was PLC's as this is used quite commonly in the workplace, however the qualification tells you how to code them, which we never do 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.)
2/5
there are a few extra curricular activities, for instance we have an apprentice newsletter which is written by our apprentices. there are often community outreach events where we attend schools to provide information about the apprenticeship. additionally, there is the yearly skill share event which BMW sends a team too every year.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BMW Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
the pay is extremely good as far as apprenticeships go, additionally the company has an extremely good retention rate so you are likely to get a job at the end of the apprenticeship. furthermore, although the first year is not as fun, it is worth going through it as the apprenticeship greatly improves from the second year on.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BMW Group UK?
research the company and become familiar with the values. However the most important thing is to be genuinely interest in engineering and maintenance. if you do not have a passion for this job you might enjoy it briefly but you will get bored and this will quickly show. someone who is enthusiastic and genuine in their job will be much more likely to get the role.
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4.8
