Previous Next
  1. Home
  2. Student Opportunities
  3. Industrial Placements

THE IP THAT'S ALL ABOUT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

We know that your placement is a huge platform for your future, so we take our responsibilities very seriously. Whether you join us in Engineering, Business Operations Management (Logistics), HR or Finance we'll make sure that you maximise your time with us. You'll be involved with live projects from the start and be given the opportunity to make a real impact within the company, working alongside experienced people who'll go out of their way to make sure that you're always learning.

There are currently no vacancies available

About the programme

The Toyota Way means that continuous improvement and respect for people are hard-wired into our culture. We're always looking for ways to improve - and that extends to your development. 

Over the 11 month placement, you will be given training to sharpen and enhance your skills, while receiving regular feedback on how you are progressing.  At the end of your Industrial Placement, you'll present to senior managers on your projects to demonstrate how you've added value to Toyota.  

Previous IP students say it's an invaluable experience; it clarifies what you want from a career and helps you in your vital final-year. Impress us and you could be invited back to join our full graduate training programme.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

We're looking for individuals who will share our values and believe that there's always a better way. So, if you thrive on analysing problems from different angles to develop solutions and take a practical approach to your work, you could go a long way with us.  You will also have a consistently strong academic record, with a minimum 2:1 predicted degree result.

Additionally, for Engineering and Finance positions you will need to be studying a relevant degree. For HR and Logistics, most disciplines are acceptable but business related degrees are preferred.  We typically take on Industrial Placement students in four areas: Business Operations Management, HR, Finance and engineering.

Starting

You will typically start your employment on the first Monday in September.  Your development programme will last for just over 11 months and commence with an introduction to Toyota which will involve a 5 day induction held at the Burnaston Plant alongside other IP's or Graduates.

Development

You will be involved in a number of development programmes throughout your 11 months which will be focussed on a range of different skills.

These courses range from Toyota specific skills such as Problem Solving, Plan-Do-Check-Action and A3 Report writing, to developing skills in Presentation and Communication Skills, Personal Planning and Team Working.

Training

During the training period, you will be expected to write reports detailing practical aspects of your role using some of the Toyota philosophies: such as PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Action) and Problem Solving. You will then be expected to present these to Senior Management.

Assessment

The Industrial Placement Programme is assessed throughout via formal and informal reviews and if successful, it will give you the opportunity to come back and join us as a graduate if opportunities are available.

Starting

You will typically start your employment on the first Monday in September.  Your development programme will last for just over 11 months and commence with an introduction to Toyota which will involve a 5 day induction held at the Burnaston Plant alongside other IP's or Graduates.

Development

You will be involved in a number of development programmes throughout your 11 months which will be focussed on a range of different skills.

These courses range from Toyota specific skills such as Problem Solving, Plan-Do-Check-Action and A3 Report writing, to developing skills in Presentation and Communication Skills, Personal Planning and Team Working.

Training

During the training period, you will be expected to write reports detailing practical aspects of your role using some of the Toyota philosophies: such as PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Action) and Problem Solving. You will then be expected to present these to Senior Management.

Assessment

The Industrial Placement Programme is assessed throughout via formal and informal reviews and if successful, it will give you the opportunity to come back and join us as a graduate if opportunities are available.

Areas you may work

Engineering

Engineering at Toyota isn’t about nuts and bolts. It’s much more about having imagination plus the dedication to keep developing the best processes and products.

We encourage our engineers to look at things from every angle to find better ways of working. That’s always been the Toyota Way – as our founder Sakichi Toyoda put it: “Inspiration comes from many places.  We need to have our eyes, our minds and our hearts open to things we interact with every day, so open your window to the world.”  You can see that commitment reflected in cars like the Auris Hybrid. It’s what makes Toyota an outstanding place to work for inquisitive and ambitious engineers

Business Operations Management (Logistics)

Everything starts and stops with Logistics.  Join us here and you’ll be at the centre of our manufacturing operation bringing the world-famous Toyota Production System (TPS) to life.

This is your chance to learn about concepts like jidoka and just-in-time first-hand from the company that pioneered them.  TPS is a lean manufacturing system designed to eliminate waste, reduce costs and keep lead times down. It was developed between 1948 and 1975 out of two concepts. The first is called jidoka (which loosely translates as “automation with a human touch”) – this means that when a problem occurs, production stops immediately, preventing defective products. The second concept is just-in-time, in which each process produces only what is needed by the next, and so on, in a continuous flow. Where Toyota has led the way, other manufacturers have followed. You’ll find that many universities teach TPS today as a proven operations management system

Human Resources

Our approach to people management is different.

One of Toyota's Guiding Principles is to foster a respectful, reflective culture where individual creativity and teamwork can flourish. That makes HR a visible, valuable part of our operation. To keep our products progressing and our processes evolving, it’s essential to develop our people. Our HR specialists are influential experts, and most employment issues are their business. To succeed in HR, you’ll need to be a team player yourself – as comfortable and confident on the shop floor as you are with your senior managers.

Finance

Finance isn’t a back office function at Toyota.

You’ll soon see that a key part of your role is to go and see things for yourself and adopt a dynamic and practical learning method. You’ll spend time on the shop floor and understanding the way we work from a manufacturing perspective. A key part of our role is to develop breakthrough initiatives to manage costs per vehicle by working closely with other departments. Whether you are in cost management, general ledger, accounts payable and received, purchasing, or investment, you'll tackle real commercial projects and discover how finance can add real value to the production process.

More information

Salary and Benefits

At Toyota Manufacturing UK, during your 11 month placement, we reward performance and hard work.

We also offer an excellent range of benefits including:

• Current Salary: £18,685 plus overtime

  • Paid overtime
  • 25 days paid annual holiday
  • Relocation assistance
  • Free workwear
  • Subsidised restaurants
  • Discount car schemes
  • Graduate placement opportunities
  • Workplace nursery
  • Pension

Our 11-month Placement Programme numbers are based on business requirements and do vary from year to year.

Typically Toyota Manufacturing UK selects 10-15 Industrial Trainees per year across both Engineering and Non-Engineering Divisions.

Typically the first week of September every year.

We offer Non-Engineering opportunities such as Human Resources, Business Operations Management (Production Control), Finance & Corporate Services, Logistics and Environment based across the business.

We also offer Engineering opportunities at either Burnaston or Deeside such as, Assembly Division, Press and Weld, Paint and Plastics and Quality Assurance.

Placement opportunities can vary from year to year.

We take industrial placement students who are in the 2nd or 3rd year of their degree (to apply for engineering you must be studying an engineering degree).

Students will ideally also have an interest in working within the vehicle manufacturing sector, a mature approach, and be confident, flexible, enthusiastic, team players.

Students will be expected to be prepared to use their own initiative and implement changes.

Either Burnaston, Derbyshire or Deeside, North Wales.

Unfortunately, we can only accept applications for our 11-month placement programme from candidates who are legally entitled to work in the UK. We will ask to see proof of your eligibility to work in the UK when you visit our site at the assessment centre/interview stage of the recruitment process. Typically, this is in the form of a UK or European Economic passport or similar supporting documentation as detailed on our application form.

UCAS points will be taken into consideration and a strong academic record is required.

The current starting salary is £18,685 plus overtime, 25 days paid holiday including public (or bank) holidays, workwear and access to on-site subsidised restaurants.

If you are successful at the on-line aptitude testing stage, you will be invited to attend an on-site assessment centre at the Burnaston Plant.

The closing date for the 11-month Placement Programme Applications will be in mid November.

You will be based in the UK but there may be opportunities to travel within our European operations.

Opportunities are based on business requirements.

We also recruit a very small number of people to work for Toyota Motor Europe (TME) - they are based on the same site, in the same office with the same salary and complete the same scheme, they are just employed by TME.

Travel opportunities for TME recruits will be more likely than for TMUK recruits.

Toyota Manufacturing UK does provide some monetary assistance to relocate.

At the Open Day accommodation advice is given in terms of local letting agency contact details.

You will also meet other Industrial Trainees and Graduates that need to move to the area.

You will attend a 5 day Company Induction with all the new Placement Programme Students and Graduates and then join your department for a more detailed welcome.

Core training courses include, Plan-Do-Check-Action, Presentation Skills, Health & Safety and Personal Planning.

You will have 3 formal reviews with your Supervisor.

You will also have numerous informal opportunities to gain feedback on your performance.

You will be primarily based in 1 department for the duration of your placement, however the general nature of work at Toyota Manufacturing UK is often teamwork.

You will therefore have the opportunity to work with multi-disciplinary teams with members from other departments.

Yes, you will be allocated a Supervisor from day one who will support you as you progress through the 11-month Placement Programme.

You will also have a mentor, this will likely be someone who has recently completed the graduate scheme themseleves.

Yes, at the end of the 11-month Placement Programme a small number of Placement Programme Students are offered a Graduate position.

This decision is based on performance appraisals throughout the 11 month placement and current vacancies.

These opportunities are limited and the competition is strong.