I started work in the client services team where I gained experience speaking with clients and dealing with providers. Once my experience increased, I became a Wealth Management Assistant which involved attending client meetings with the adviser and understanding each client’s needs and objectives in a lot more detail. Now I am level 4 qualified I will take a more prominent role in dealing with existing and new clients. I also utilise my previous skillset and take responsibility for managing our IT systems and implementing new technology and processes within the business.

This year long placement was split between different business units within JCB; meaning I had the opportunity to experience four totally different roles. During the first placement at ‘Compact Products’ I was responsible for ensuring the pre production machines were built on time and to rectify any issues I had found during a virtual CAD build I had completed. My second placement was with the ‘Group Structures’ team where I designed rigs required for fatigue testing of different welded fabrications. On my third placement at ‘Power Products’ I generated marketing and technical information to be sent to dealers to inform them of new product launches. My final placement was within Industrial design where I was tasked to design the next generation lighting tower for ‘Power Products’. Throughout the year I was involved in multiple presentations to higher management and on one occasion the chairman. I was also a mentor for a sixth form college taking part in the ‘Engineering Education Scheme’, this involved weekly meetings to help the students where I provided technical assistance as well as helping them manage their project.

My time spent at JLR gave me an invaluable insight into how a global automotive company operates. I was involved in a wide variety of different tasks which not only made the placement very interesting but also gave me lots of experience over a short period of time. Being able to communicate effectively with engineers and quickly start new jobs and objectives was crucial. Although most of my time was spent within body engineering I was also able to experience industrial design, climate control testing, competitor benchmarking and the product creation system. Overall I hugely benefitted from this placement and received very positive feedback at my final review.