MAKE YOUR MARK

After completing her Master’s in Engineering and having worked for a luxury watchmaker, Kenza was determined to take her career to the next level. She knew that she wanted to work for a leading luxury brand and came across the graduate opportunities at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. From her time on the graduate programme to her current role as a Quality Project Leader, Kenza has had opportunities to work closely with other teams across the business. It has allowed her to develop relationships with a variety of people from different backgrounds and perspectives — all working collaboratively and supporting each other along the way to reach their full potential. ‘It is very enjoyable, because I get to work with individuals who all bring something different to the company's growth. It's really satisfying to see, almost like all these parts of the puzzle coming together into one piece.’

Anoshan first joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as a placement student while studying Mechanical Engineering. But after finishing his studies, he knew that joining the company’s graduate programme was what he wanted to do. ‘After talking to graduates already on the programme, I was impressed by how much the BMW Group believes in developing its graduates as the future of the company. I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.’ Ten months after starting the programme, Anoshan could see how much his confidence had grown. By taking on a leading role in projects, he was able to gain responsibility early in his career, with the guidance and support to build his own path. ‘Early on I was tasked with running the production managers’ meetings. I was the only graduate and everyone was more senior — it was intimidating and I had to ask for a lot of support at first, but the managers were really encouraging and supportive. Now, I’ve been given a leading role in a new project, which is incredible.’

Cara was first attracted to Rolls-Royce’s graduate programme due to the exciting opportunities, technical skills that she could learn, and overall experience she could gain. The knowledge she built and guidance she received have all led her to her current role as a Quality Specialist. From providing mentors to being an active member of a Gender Inclusion Group, Cara hopes to be a role model herself for aspiring future female joiners. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a business that champions women and their careers, and Cara is proud to be a driving force of the company’s efforts. ’We started the gender inclusion network in January 2020. There’s about 30 of us who meet regularly and run virtual social events as a way to meet other women across the company. It’s a really great way for us to build our networks. I think role models for women are really important, especially in this industry.’

Matt first joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 2010 as an intern and returned as a graduate in 2013, after completing an Engineering Degree. Now, managing the Trim Manufacturing team, he’s made exciting progress and never stopped looking for opportunities to learn. ‘I was always passionate about education. During my graduate programme, I had the chance to do my Master's Degree alongside work. It was all possible thanks to the full support of my line manager.’ Throughout his programme, Matt was able to explore his interests, work across different teams, and find a career that excited him. Starting out in the Quality team at the home of Rolls-Royce, he then discovered other key parts of the business. ‘I went to Munich for a placement in New Product Strategy. It was mostly marketing, something I had no background in, but they gave me great opportunities to develop and I even got to represent Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at the Geneva Motor Show.’

Marion joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as a graduate after studying Mechanical Engineering and completing a Master’s in advanced materials. Now, working as a Project Planner, she’s been with the business for almost six years. During the graduate programme, Marion explored a variety of areas across the business, allowing her to discover the craft and dedication that goes into every product. She started in production, before moving to the Goodwood laboratory to learn about luxury materials. She then did a placement in finance, before a four-month placement in Germany. ‘It was a great eye opener. I’d never studied some of those topics, so I was out of my comfort zone but it was really interesting. It was good to gain a new perspective and network with a lot of people across the business.’

I’m doing a four-year apprenticeship, combining a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Chichester, supported by Rolls-Royce, with a full-time role as a maintenance apprentice. I applied because of the vast range of educational opportunities available. The idea of learning on the job with great benefits and support for career progression was really attractive. I recently started a placement in the Laboratory where requests from departments are put to the test; this has really helped with my university module on Material Science. The change from school to a professional setting was initially quite daunting, but with the support available from people around me, it was a seamless transition.

I joined Rolls-Royce straight from Sixth Form in September 2021 on a four-year degree apprenticeship, studying Business & Management at the University of Chichester. I’ve started out as the first apprentice to do a placement in Sales; I’m working on projects, rather than just one job, which I like because it’s always changing from week to week. I did a lot of research before I applied to Rolls-Royce. I was inspired by the fact that each car is personalised to the customer and made unique: the focus is on the client, and on quality, not quantity. Plus, it’s an international company with great opportunities for progression.

At college, they were very big on UCAS and both my parents had been to university, so I initially went down that route. I’d received and accepted offers, but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and wasn’t totally sold on the idea of university; I learn better by doing. Having grown up around cars, I knew what Rolls-Royce meant and liked the idea of getting hands-on with a reputable name. When I started, I was only 18 and quite shy, but I’ve had support with developing my presenting skills and now I’m much more confident; I’m leading department meetings that include general managers and group leaders, which is huge, and pretty unusual for an apprentice! I’ve done placements in various departments, including Quality and Planning, which has been great for meeting people and developing my network.