ATG Vehicle Controller Review

I really enjoyed my placement as a whole. My department were really welcoming and there was a very positive atmosphere around the office. When it was busy, there was plenty of work to do. However, during quieter periods there wasn't much to do at all and I had to regularly ask for more work to do.

Everyone in my department and other departments have been really supportive and engaging with me during my placement. I communicate with a lot of different areas of the business and they have all been positive since day one.

When I first joined the company it was a very busy time of year and there was a lot to learn very quickly. My manager and the intern I replaced helped me with all the new software and programs that I hadn't used before, as well as introduce me to all the different departments that I would be working with. They would always be willing to help if I ever needed anything.

During the first couple of months I was really busy, and this gave me great exposure to the business. During the quite months however, there really isn't enough work to fill a full working day. Due to the nature of the job, I am usually very busy in the mornings but the afternoons are ususally empty unless I go searching for more work. Usually I am then given quick tasks or jobs to do, rather than longer projects etc

My job envolves moving pre produciton vehicles between different departments that then test them before they go on sale. I also take part in some of the analysis of these vehicles and use my judgement to give certain quality scores for the vehicle. My manager trusts me to carry this out independently.

I feel the biggest thing I have learned is work management and organisation. My placement hasn't required me to use much engineering skill but it has taught me valuable lessons in how to behave and work in a professional environment.

The atmosphere in the office was really positive and very welcoming. Anytime someone had a birthday of came back from holiday they would always bring in cake. It was a very relaxed and social atmosphere.

Not well at all. Before the placement started, there was very little communication from BMW. They sent me a contract with the wrong start date and when I phoned to change it they just said sign it and change the date with a pen. For whatever reason my contract never reached HR. This meant that they weren't allowed to pay me until they received a signed contract. I asked whether they could print me a new one to sign, but they said they didn't keep a record of it! I didn't get paid for two months before the issue got sorted. They did pay me for the two months eventually. I'm lucky becuase I lived at home with my parents so I wasn't paying rent, but if I was, I wouldn't be able to afford it without getting paid for two months. HR at the MINI plant is probably the worst I have ever seen.

Other than some training courses that were required to use pieces of software, there was very little investment into my development as an engineer.

I think my department is the best department within the company because they do all of the pre series tesing of vehicles for the company, and therefore get a real hands on experience with the product. However, there isn't much room to move positions within the department, and I can't see a career progression that I would enjoy.

YES!! Really good social scene amongst all interns. There were about 17 interns within my building and we would have a social every week as well as go on trips using company cars.

I lived at home and commuted in every day to save money. Rent in Oxford is expensive though. Other interns were paying between £100-£150 per week on rent.

Oxford has two universities so there are plenty of bars and clubs in the area that the interns regularly visit.

Tere was a weekly football session organised with the graduates and interns at a local playing field.