APEP Degree Apprenticeship: PDD Review

I am a degree apprentice in the Vehicle Structures team within JLR studying Applied Professional Engineering on the Product design and development pathway. Day-to-day I am designing parts for cars, using CAE to simulate how these parts stand to a crash test, and working on studies to improve current car conditions. I go to university for 2.5days every 3weeks and JLR provide us with Skills Days every Friday to help us manage the workload of university and work.

On the JLR side of the programme, they have structured it very well with opportunities for us to take placements where we can explore the company and learn what sort of engineer we want to become. The university side is not as well organised, there is a lot of confusion around how the syllabus is being delivered across the 4 years and there are a lot of group assignments which lack clarity which is especially important as they have a large impact on our overall grade.

My manager is excellent at giving me the time I need for university or personal circumstances. They are very accepting of the fact that we are not supposed to be fully relied on and we are there to learn. They support in trying to get the university to work better with us and offer lots of opportunities for us to give feedback which does get taken forward.

They offer plenty of support, however, it is not the most useful. They provide us with assignments which lack direction in how we are supposed to be progressing as engineers and they do not provide the most welcoming environment for when we have an issue.

The degree has no relation to what I am doing at work, I have learnt much more from doing my job than I have at university.

Yes

It is such a supportive company and everyone here wants to help you learn and develop. You are guaranteed a job if you pass university and the apprenticeship which provides job security.