BMW Group said on Wednesday (7 January) it was recruiting 200 new apprentices to join its UK manufacturing and retailer operations in 2015.
The Mini production is looking for 47 new apprentices to take up places in August 2015. In addition while BMW and Mini retailers are looking to recruit around 150 young people across the UK, a third more than in 2014.
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Mini’s Plant Oxford has 30 places available in a variety of areas ranging from finance and logistics to engineering and IT. Technical apprentices will attend the factory’s training school featuring classrooms, dedicated computer study areas and a workshop.
Five apprenticeships are available at the Plant Swindon pressings factory and a further 12 at the Hams Hall engine plant near Birmingham.
Apprenticeships last between three and four years and cover a wide range of skills from human resources and business to electrical maintenance and engineering. The training leads to an NVQ level three qualification and some candidates will have the opportunity to progress through to degree level in the course of their career.
Mini plants chief Frank Bachmann said: “Investment in young people is a key part of our development strategy for the plants and it is vital that we attract the very best young talent to ensure the business has the right skills for the future. We are delighted to be able to offer young people the chance to join our apprenticeship scheme.”
For the 150 apprentices at retailers, there are programmes in various disciplines ranging from service technician, parts advisor, motorcycle technician and body panel/paint.
All retailer apprentices complete the three-year advanced apprenticeship at Level 3, the parts advisor programme is two years, and individuals receive VRQ/VCQ qualifications from the Institute of the Motor Industry.
Training is carried out at the BMW Group Academy UK, a purpose-built training centre opened in 2006 and located near Reading, the bodyshop programmes are at a BMW training facility in Milton Keynes.
In general the minimum entry criteria is between three and four GSCEs at grade C or above or equivalent.
