Engineering Apprentice Review
at BMW Group UK
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Automotive Engineering
Chichester
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
2.9 /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!
2.5/5
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Overview of Role
2/5
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Skills Development
3.2/5
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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
Supporting with the production of parts and the problem solving process when issues arise, collecting and analysing data and presenting this information back in cross-functional meetings.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
1/5
Attending College has become a waste of time during the last 2 years of the course. Teachers refuse to teach us or are ill-equipped to teach at our level, grading of assignments is hit or miss to the point that some calculations have been marked correct for one student and failed for another even though they were the exact same with the same answer when the students compared grades at the end and other students were completely failed for modules they could prove they hit the brief for.
The college we attend are not fit for purpose in delivering this course, the majority of the teaching staff have no passion or interest in passing knowledge onto future generations and instead just position themselves as a roadblock to our progression.
The college we attend are not fit for purpose in delivering this course, the majority of the teaching staff have no passion or interest in passing knowledge onto future generations and instead just position themselves as a roadblock to our progression.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
Skills development has stagnated in the last 2 years of the course. College attendance has just become a box to tick towards completing the apprenticeship instead of developing our knowledge. Development in the workplace has also slowed as i have moved towards a final role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Strictly speaking about the education programme, the organisation is poor. We have weeks where nothing is communicated about staff not being available to teach us and end up having to self teach large portions of content. Delays to the programme like this are not made up for by the College by extending our course to properly teach us.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I can't fault the apprentice advisors here, they do everything they can to support us. The only issue is that what they are able to support us with is incredibly narrow in scope.
Things can only truly improve if the education providers are held accountable for what they deliver and this sits way above what the advisors can support with.
Things can only truly improve if the education providers are held accountable for what they deliver and this sits way above what the advisors can support with.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Content is often not properly delivered ie; rushing through slides because "we don't have enough time left to cover this", teachers actually delivering the wrong content in lessons and not understanding how it's wrong and feedback inconsistencies mean it is difficult to know where you stand with developing assignments.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
The course had the potential to be incredibly useful for my role, any improved understanding or performance has come from the requirement to do extra reading and self teaching due to the gaps left by the provider.
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
My team are very sociable and have frequent events. I also have a group of other apprentices i am close friends with and go out with.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BMW Group UK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Whilst my course has been a disappointment, i know that others available within the business are exceptional and the potential opportunities within the business are incredible. If you have any interest in automotive manufacturing, engineering or even some more niche interests like sewing or woodworking this could be the perfect place for you.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BMW Group UK?
Be prepared to network.
The act of networking is built into the foundations of the BMW Group as a whole but also specifically at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Finding the courage to book in a catch-up over coffee with a manager of a department you would be interested in going on placement with or having a meeting with a process partner to better understand how their work can impact yours will help you stand out here.
The act of networking is built into the foundations of the BMW Group as a whole but also specifically at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Finding the courage to book in a catch-up over coffee with a manager of a department you would be interested in going on placement with or having a meeting with a process partner to better understand how their work can impact yours will help you stand out here.
