Jaguar Land Rover will offer a record number of degree apprenticeships this year, opening up opportunities for successful candidates to gain a degree while working for the automotive manufacturer and develop the next generation of modern luxury vehicles, without accruing large debts.
As the luxury car manufacturer opens 300 places on its 2023 apprenticeship scheme, it is announcing 150 of those will be degree apprenticeships - a 70% increase on last year - to deepen its talent pool with digital, autonomous and electrified skills.
Degree apprenticeships offer those who might not consider university due to the cost, the opportunity to get started in the industry and get paid by their employer while they also study. The JLR starting salary of circa £24,500 is well above the market average meaning young people can afford to move closer to JLR to undertake their degree apprenticeship.
Two JLR degree apprentices Frazer Balzan and Erin Purewal were chosen to represent JLR at an event at the Houses of Parliament earlier this month, hosted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, to talk to parliamentarians about degree apprenticeships.
Both Frazer and Erin are studying part-time at the University of Warwick while working for JLR. Frazer is a JLR degree apprentice in power electronics, originally from Skipton. He was studying Physics at Leeds University until he heard about the JLR degree apprenticeship opportunity.
Much better optionHe said: “The degree apprenticeship was financially a much better option for me than university. There was a lot of pressure on me through debt mounting in study fees. My parents were asking me what I would be doing after I finished, and I was worried I wasn’t getting a lot of relevant work experience — it was an anxious time. Now every hour is used towards a future that I can see. The next natural step for me would be to find a role in JLR in power electronic design — I am pursuing that.”
Erin, from Coventry, is working on a JLR degree apprenticeship in digital and technology solutions, specialising in data analytics. She says she applied because both the automotive industry and the technological industry are at pivotal points of change. She began at JLR in a data analyst role and is now currently working in the central data engineering team.
Erin said: “The work of data roles is so important to the business, and it is amazing to be a part of this change as businesses adapt to becoming more data driven.”
Anne Marie Campion, JLR head of early years careers programme, said: “Our apprenticeship programmes including our Degree Apprenticeships are highly sought after. Our apprentices will enjoy a fantastic experience. They will learn with the UK’s top training providers and support our
Reimagine strategy, working on our future vehicles that are fundamental to our global success.”
Last year, JLR launched its Future Skills Programme, a global upskilling that will see 29,000 people trained in electrification and digital skills in the next three years. These skills are considered essential to developing, building and delivering JLR’s next generation of cars.