Partner Company Apprenticeships

When I first arrived at Toyota I had little idea of what an industrial placement would be like and what sort of things I would be doing, so I was understandable fairly nervous. However, I feel like I settled in almost immediately. We had an induction week with the other Grads and IPs, which introduced you to Toyota fundamentals, but was also a way to get used to the company without being thrown in at the deep end.  I was introduced to my department after that and was welcomed in straight away. Within a month, or so, it was like I’d been there for ages. 

My role in the company was incredibly varied and it felt like every day was different, which really suited my working style. I was always up on my feet doing things, rather than sitting at a desk. One of my main projects was working with 3D printers to assist with tasks within Plastics. This was a completely new skill to me and allowed me to try something outside my normal area of study, which I ended up really enjoying and I’m hoping to be able to integrate it into my Chemical Engineering degree.  I was given projects with a large amount of responsibility , which really makes you feel like you’re making a difference to the company and a lot more than just an intern. I was even given the opportunity to work with school groups who come to Toyota to learn more about engineering and what we do as a company. All these different activities have allowed me to develop such a wide range of skills, that I look forward to bringing back to University with me and applying to my future career. Working at Toyota is definitely a challenge, but with constant support it’s one you’ll enjoy.

Hi, my name is David Choo. I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield and now I am a Graduate Engineer here at Toyota. I first came to TMUK after my penultimate year of University, where I joined as a trainee engineer for a Summer Internship. I was assigned to the Press shop where I joined a team of five engineers. I immediately felt part of the team with real responsibilities and interesting projects to carry out. One project involved spending a lot of time on the Shop Floor to improve the quality of a product from a Press process. The project required me to work with very skilled team members to learn more about the process, and to find the root cause of the problem through fact finding and analysis. Though it may sound slightly overwhelming, especially with the short amount of time you are here, the huge amount of support that you get is fantastic which makes the tasks manageable. I was able to get the most of the 12 weeks I was here. One of the best aspects of working here at Toyota is the friendliness and helpfulness of the people in the company, and the mentality  that everyone has - you always feel like you are a part of a team and everyone is there to support you.

At the end of the Summer Placement I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to return to TMUK and join their Graduate Scheme. I joined the Weld department on my return, and just like the Summer Internship, I was immediately involved in all the daily activities, as well as supporting with the problem solving on line and department issues. I truly feel valued as a member of this department. Every day there are new issues, new developments and new advancements, and I am continuing ton learn new and interesting things. TMUK has been a great company to work for so far, I have gained so much and developed from such a short time of being here. I’m excited to see what my future at TMUK holds for me.

Having completed an MEng in Engineering Manufacturing and Management at UMIST (Manchester), I started at TMUK on 7th September 1998. I completed a 2 year graduate programme which included a number of off the job training courses as well as on the job development in the engineering department. As a “line engineer” my role was to provide direct engineering support to the production groups, which involved reactive problem solving and proactive implementation of minor vehicle or equipment changes.

After completing the graduate programme I moved to a project engineer role working on new vehicle and equipment implementation. This role required the investigation and understanding of major upcoming changes and development of solutions to enable these changes to work in our plant.

In 2005 I was promoted to Engineering Section Manager and led a team of line engineers in direct line support. After one year I moved into a Production Section Manager role which meant managing a section of the Assembly shop with around 120 members in my organisation (including shift work).

After taking maternity leave I returned to the engineering department leading the development of management systems and process design methodology. Through these projects we have achieved over 20% improvement in efficiency over the last 6 years. I am now responsible for ensuring that all of this learning is incorporated into the introduction of our new model, giving us a strong foundation for the next level of efficiency improvements.

Over the years I have worked with a wide range of people within TMUK and in other plants, including business trips to Japan, Canada, Russia, Turkey and France. Throughout the company there is a huge emphasis on teamwork, and people will always help and support each other. Although it is often challenging, it is also very rewarding to be part of an organisation where everyone works together to achieve long term success.

University & Degree Studied: Loughborough University – MEng Automotive Engineering

Current Job Role: New Project Quality Assurance - Responsible for Chassis, Engine and Electrical commodities and associated quality management systems and complete vehicle evaluations. Core role involves practical problem solving and countermeasure implementation, process and procedure kaizen, supplier quality management and conformity of production.

My journey with Toyota: I first experienced Toyota as an Industrial Placement student in 2014 successfully completing an 11 month placement and 2 year Graduate scheme after completing my degree.  I have never had a dull day here: it’s fast paced, varied and challenging. The scope of the roles are so wide you will benefit both personally and professionally, working with people at all levels of the business and suppliers to achieve the company objectives.  With guidance and support of my managers and mentor, I’ve overcome tough challenges and achieved beyond even my own expectations at this early stage of my career.  By the end of my 3 years at Toyota, I am now an integral part of the team with my own specialisation within the team. From an early stage in the placement year I was given real responsibility and incrementally ramped up and exposed to more parts of the business. I’ll never forget the first time I travelled to a foreign supplier solo to agree a countermeasure strategy with all of their European Quality team.

I’ve recently had the opportunity to work on the new Corolla which has been a great experience, giving me great opportunities to put my mark on the next UK built Toyota model. TMUK has a great culture, really supportive and friendly people which really makes it a fun place to work.