Pictured, apprentice Suleman Ahmed at JLR’s Gaydon Engineering Centre, Warwickshire.
JLR Apprenticeship Roles
Level 3 apprenticeships in Engineering & Manufacturing which are equivalent to A-Levels (and can be completed from 16+)
Level 4 Higher Apprenticeships in Engineering (eligible to people with T Level & BTEC Qualifications or A-Level Maths)
Level 6-degree apprenticeships in Digital & Technology Solutions (Software Engineering, Software with Data, Data Analytics), Applied Professional Engineering (Controls, Manufacturing, Electrical and Product Design & Development), Supply Chain (Logistics & Procurement)
Level 7 in Finance (CIMA qualification).
More detailed information about the programmes can be found on our website here – Apprenticeships – JLR Careers Apprenticeships – JLR Careers (jaguarlandrovercareers.com)
All apprenticeships are four years in length and the latest closing date for applications is the end of March. Please note that whilst we may give a guide to the closing date, we may close any of our programmes at any point and at short notice based on the volume of applications.
Case study:
Suleman Ahmed – Applied Professional Engineering Degree Apprentice – Controls Pathway
Age: 19
Hometown: Birmingham (moved to Coventry for degree apprenticeship)
Prior Study: Studied 4 A-Levels (Math, Physics, Further Maths, Chemistry) at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Birmingham.
Enrolment process: Researched more about degree apprenticeships towards end of year 12 and start of year 13. Applied to JLR degree apprenticeship course in January 2023, followed by a psychometric exam, then 2 1-hour online interviews. Suleman received the offer in April 2023 and started work at JLR in September 2023.
Why JLR: The JLR degree apprenticeship offered the best combination of both a global, established and well-known company and a prestigious university (Warwick University) where I could attain a BEng qualification in just four years.
My contribution to JLR’s next generation of vehicles: As a team, we test the parts and systems of vehicles planned to be released in the next couple of years. We run the cars through a continuous 12-week physical simulation (on a rig) equivalent to using the car for 10+ years (300,000km of use). We are essential to the process as we can identify problems with parts that need to be redesigned before being manufactured inside every car.
What is a System Integration Engineer and why do we need them: Currently, I work as a System Integration Engineer in the testing department. We test either the physical durability of parts (e.g. the front steering rack) or the functionality of car systems (e.g. braking system). This involves working with a mix of software, hardware and coding to simulate an environment around each test piece and convince it into thinking it is on the road as opposed to on a controlled rig. I work a lot with understanding the different types of signals and microcontrollers (ECUs) in the car, and how these can be manipulated to carry out the test. We use several climate-controlled rooms (-40°C to 90°C), several full vehicle rigs and even a sunlight simulator to test how parts react and function under harsh conditions.
Career aspirations: I have always been interested in STEM, especially finding out how things worked, and so becoming an engineer was always the way forward for me. I also have a big interest in AI and Machine Learning, hence would like to explore this in the future.
Favourite thing about JLR: My favourite thing about JLR is actually the culture. JLR invest a lot into us as degree apprentices, and there is so much opportunity to grow and learn at work. We have opportunities to arrange placements in other teams and areas of the company, which helps you build a holistic view of the business and explore interests you may have outside of your department. This allows you to experience different parts of the business and discover what you enjoy doing the most. We also have a great Early Careers community where you can meet other apprentices and attend social events (e.g. hikes, bowling, ice skating etc).
Why is a degree apprenticeship good: ”Six months ago, I was a normal A-Level student. Now, I am training to become an engineer at a global company, surrounded by industry professionals, involved in real life projects, being paid to study for a degree, and most importantly – growing and learning every step of the way!
The beauty of my degree apprenticeship is that you are always learning. Whether it’s using a software, or understanding the physics behind certain technologies, not to mention studying for an engineering degree at the same time – you learn new things every day. Yes, it can be difficult and busy at times as you balance both work and a degree, however this pushes you to grow more than ever and to enjoy all the benefits of being a degree apprentice at JLR.”