BMW's head of training visited Birmingham Metropolitan College to help mark National Apprenticeships Week on Thursday.
The car giant works with BMC to deliver training to more than 50 apprentices at its Hams Hall plant, near Birmingham and at the Mini plant in Oxford.
Ralf Urlinger, head of the BMW Group Training Academy, flew in from Germany to see the Hams Hall apprentices in action.
Mr Urlinger visited the James Watt campus in Great Barr, met with staff and apprentices, saw the workshops which the apprentices use and heard about the college’s apprenticeship programme.
Mr Urlinger said: “Internationally, at many BMW Group locations across the world, we are investing in young people and offer a variety of training opportunities. It is vital that we attract the very best young talent to ensure the business has the right skills for the future.
“The outstanding facilities and apprenticeship provision at Birmingham Metropolitan College are of an excellent standard.”
Dr Dame Christine Braddock DBE, princiapl and chief executive of Birmingham Metropolitan College, said: “The apprentices we have trained have gone on to excel within BMW and some have continued their training to university level, which demonstrates the commitment BMW has towards training of their associates.”
Apprenticeship programmes are designed to reflect the training needs of the individual learner and on average, programmes take three - four years to complete.
As well as delivering apprenticeships for multi-national corporations like BMW, Birmingham Metropolitan College also recruits apprenticeships in Business Administration, Customer Service, Early Years Care and Education, Hairdressing, Professional Cookery, Management, Team Leading among many others.
Apprenticeships are available to those who are leaving or have left full time education and the entry requirements vary.
Training is delivered in the workplace and at Birmingham Metropolitan College.
• To find out more about apprenticeships, visit www.bmetc.ac.uk or www.apprenticeships.org.uk
