BMW: Training Excellence

Posted on Tue, 01 April 2008 10:12:40 (252 Reads)

As a careers advisor you’ll understand the benefits of top-class training. Question is, where do your students go to get it?  The answer is BMW – with an award-winning training course it’s the perfect way to start a career in the automotive industry

The BMW Group is at the forefront of innovation, technology and high performance – key principles that form the backbone of its vocational training courses that are available in the UK.

Students who successfully pass the aptitude tests, interviews and work experience and enrol on a BMW Apprentice Programme, start off with the best possible start: a job. Admittedly, this sounds slightly incongruous but all apprentices are employed by a BMW Dealer, who invests a huge amount of time and money in each and every apprentice – a well-proven strategy specifically designed to give them the best possible start to their career.

So how does the training scheme actually work? 
BMW prides itself on offering the very best mix of vocational and theory-based training throughout the duration of the programme.  To this end, each apprentice is assigned their very own personal mentor within the dealership to provide help and advice whenever they need it, and assist with understanding how to make the best of the state-of-the-art facilities that come with working within the BMW Dealer Network.

BMW also recognises that work-based training is only one facet of a holistic approach to further education.  That’s why most courses involve block training at the BMW Group Academy. Located at Wokefield Park in Berkshire, this is BMW’s purpose-built training and development centre with no fewer than 32 workshop bays, world-class IT and audio-visual equipment, 21 training rooms and showrooms all designed to provide the highest quality and most consistent training throughout the country.  As a result, apprentices get the opportunity to work on the latest cars – everything from the high-performance M3, M5 and M6 to the exciting new MINI.

BMW also regards the time spent away from the workshops and textbooks as a crucial element in every apprentice’s training programme.  That’s why there are numerous on-site facilities at the Academy, including modern and fully fitted accommodation suites that will become the students’ home for each block of training. In addition, students can also take advantage of the on-site swimming pool, common room with flatscreen TVs and games consoles, health club, library, internet café and, believe it or not, an 18-hole golf course.

This year, BMW has placed even more emphasis on enrichment activities.  Every new apprentice will attend an induction programme at the Plas Menai National Watersports Centre in Wales.  As this will be the first time many of the students have been away from home for any substantial length of time – most blocks of training at the Academy last for two weeks – time spent here helps apprentices make friends, appreciate others’ strengths and weaknesses, and understand the value of teamwork and skill-sharing – key skills that they can carry forward to the Academy and day-to-day life in the dealership.  Of course, it’s also about having fun, so the students can take part in the myriad of activities on and off the water, including sailing, gorge walking, powerboating, canoe and kayaking, rope walking and climbing all under the trained eye of expert instructors.

There are four different BMW Apprentice Programmes: Service, Parts, Bodyshop and Motorcycle. 

On the successful completion of each advanced apprenticeship, each apprentice will walk away with an NVQ Level 2 and 3 in the area of study (Motorcycle apprentices gain an NVQ Level 3 only), the nationally recognised Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) Technical Certificate, plus personal development skills in communication and leadership.

For more information on the range of BMW Apprentice Programmes, encourage your students to visit www.bmw.co.uk/careers/advisor where they can access the online application form.  Alternatively, they can call BMW on 0845 234 0000.