Manufacturing apprentice Lauren has had a passion for engineering ever since she was young

What does your day to day entail?
My day to day on site is working at 80ft heights on the gantry cranes in the press shop and I absolutely love it. I love getting my tool box out , getting dirty on the job and getting involved. I have a multi skilled mindset which allows me to be versatile and work electrically and mechanically! Being apart of the process of ensuring our equipment is well maintained.

What’s something you’ve learnt on your apprenticeship?
Throughout your first year of your apprenticeship you will gain the knowledge and the hand fitting first at your training provider before entering site allowing you to grasp the mechatronics and tooling courses! My favourite part about the training provider was the workshop as I loved the robotics course being able to program and teach a robot through the use of pendants and also the PLC course! It has really helped me move this knowledge across and apply it to work that I am doing onsite now.

What is the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my role that I have a licence to drive gantry cranes , cherry pickers and scissor lifts. I never thought in my life that I would drive any of these work vehicles and also that I am working at height when fixing and maintaining the cranes on jobs.
I am proud as this is an industry I feel well suited to as I have always had a passion for engineering since a young girl and have all the attributes to becoming an engineering technician. I am proud that I followed the engineering pathways and pursued my dream career here at JLR.

How have your colleagues supported you?
My colleagues have been so supportive through my apprenticeship so far and I couldn’t thank them enough, especially being a woman in engineering which is subjected as a male dominated environment , I have felt so welcomed and part of the team. I have met the most incredible , intelligent tradespeople who have really pushed me to my full potential and a huge Thankyou to the crane maintenance team on my shift, I am so grateful for the time you have spent training me and also enabling me to thrive! My supervisor also who has supported me since I started shifts on site.

Tell us more about the early careers community.
The community side of the apprenticeship programme is amazing, I have networked with so many different individuals throughout the Halewood site right through from HR , maintenances teams and also the production teams and also meeting new colleagues at Solihull site through the different events that have took place at JLR and it shows how hard everyone works collaboratively to create our modern luxury vehicles. It’s amazing to talk to different teams and find out more about their jobs and attributes to the company.

I have been involved in so many events and support different networks whilst still going through the process of my apprenticeship. I think it’s amazing that there are so many networks at JLR to get involved in! I am an early careers ambassador for JLR which means I support all the apprentices who have been successful in securing the level 3 programme and welcome them into the business by conducting a presentation for their post offer engagement event and also by guiding them in different ways. I have also supported the SHE inspires network with JLR Halewood which was a community of different organisations which all came together to inspire young females the different jobs they could go in to when finishing school! I have also supported the international women in engineering day event at Halewood , and met some really inspiring females within the business and male colleagues that supported and celebrated with us! 

What is your top tip for candidates applying?
My top tips for any potential candidates going through the application process is try your best! Be your authentic self. Be determined and passionate. It’s ok if you have no engineering knowledge or skills JLR will help you and your training provider and also apprentices who are on this journey with you! My motto is always ask questions as there is never a silly answer! Stay on track with your work and always listen to others and communicate with your colleagues and most of all enjoy the journey.