Level 6 Engineering Technician Review

I am a level 6 Engineering Technician Apprentice, currently in year three. I spend 4 days a week on placement and one day a week at Birmingham City University for my academic studies. I have now completed placements in total vehicle quality, change co-ordination, digitalization, electrical process planning and the technical centre. I have completed my foundation degree and I am now working towards my top-up degree. I have now had the opportunity to work in many different departments, building an advanced skillset and in-depth knowledge within the automotive manufacturing industry.

My employer and my academic programme both offer great support. My first two years of study for my foundation degree presented some challenges with course content and teaching quality. Despite this i was still able to receive support and achieve the grades I wanted. My top up degree at university has been very well structured and supportive. The university lecturers are well organised and clearly define course content, deadlines and criteria. They are also always available for support. The workplace side of my apprenticeship is very well structured with three month placements in different departments during the programme. Each placement has an intro and exit meeting where expectations and performance are reviewed. It is nice to have structure and be able to give/receive feedback regularly.

The support from my employer is excellent. The apprentice training team are always available for any questions or queries and support. We have regular meetings to receive business updates and the opportunity to discuss any topics.

The support from my training provider has been good and has improved with the transition from the college/foundation degree to the uni/ top up degree. The foundation degree presented issues with the course content which we was able to feedback directly to the college. The university team are very approachable and helpful. We have three monthly reviews with the training provider to track progress and give feedback.

The qualification with my training provider has been beneficial sometimes for my role in the business. Although the course content is not always relevant to my workplace, I have been able to relate projects and processes between the two. Sometimes I feel like the less relevant modules for my degree can pull me away from actual role as I am trying to balance the workload with the time available.

Yes

The apprenticeship programme is a great alternative to university for those who are interested in earning money with a working lifestyle while studying for a degree. There are always opportunities to learn and progress while receiving great support. I have really enjoyed my experience so far and I hope to continue my career at BMW Group.