Careers at Bentley Motors

Edie Simpson is one our our current Degree Apprentices, we asked her some questions and she shared her experience and advice about doing an apprenticeship at Bentley...

We asked our current Degree Apprentice Edie Simpson to share her experience as an apprentice at Bentley Motors...

Name: Edie Simpson
Job Title: Manufacturing Data Analysis Degree Apprentice
Function: Production Maintenance

What inspired you to choose Bentley Motors for your apprenticeship, and what was it about the program that caught your eye?

At sixth form I studied Biology, Psychology, Maths and Further Maths at A-Level but I still had no idea of what I wanted to do- I knew I enjoyed maths and problem-solving but that was it really, so I was thinking maybe something down that path at university. My dad works in IT and had told me from a young age I would be suited to it but I brushed it off, thinking to myself 'I can't ever see myself enjoying working with computers!’ (how the tables have turned….). When I was in Year 13, a former student and current Bentley employee came in to discuss her career path and her apprenticeship and I decided to attend given that data science was something that had piqued my interest a couple of times. Hearing all about the course, experience and benefits that come from being an apprentice, I had my lightbulb moment- I knew this was what I wanted to do!

Determined to secure an apprenticeship, I applied to 9 in total however, always had my sights set on Bentley. After enjoying my interview and getting on well with my soon-to-be manager, when I got the offer it was a no-brainer. It stood out so much to me because the recruitment process was much less intense in comparison to others and the opportunity to study data analysis but in a manufacturing role promised such a wide range of skills and experience. I knew it was a risk opting for a degree in which I had minimal experience but trusting my gut paid off; I love my role and degree (thankfully!) and I've learnt so much in the relatively short space of time I've been here.

What kind of support did you receive from managers and colleagues to help you settle into your apprenticeship at Bentley Motors?

The transition from sixth form to work is quite challenging; in my case, my whole schedule changed and I was super nervous when I started - I barely had any experience in the field, I knew absolutely no-one and I had only recently passed my driving test so was also apprehensive about having a 40 minute drive to and from work every day, but despite all of this, my team and managers were so supportive when I started. They helped me to acclimatise gradually, giving me pointers and training to keep me on track and answered my endless stream of questions!

The induction week organised by the Early Careers team was great to get to know my cohort, and I met many of my friends at work during that first week. Starting university was the next thing to tackle but, again, after a couple of months it became part of my normal routine.

My managers have always wanted me to prioritise university so they are very happy for me to use the occasional afternoon to catch-up with my assignments which makes my life a lot easier. I do get things done in my own time too but I would recommend being as organised as you can with your time. I promised myself I would always have weekends off, which I have managed to stick to unless I have a particularly busy assignment window, and this has been possible by planning my work out so that I get everything done within the week.

Can you tell us about the placements you’ve taken across the business and how those experiences have shaped your skills and career aspirations?

Bentley offers apprentices the opportunity to have placements across the business so you can work with a different team to understand how that department works. I spent some time during my first year working with the Environmental Foundation within the Communications team which gave me lots of insight into a different part of the business, I then spent some time in Mulliner quality using my existing Tableau skills to improve their data solutions and dashboards. This has now been extended for a further 12 months as I was presented the opportunity to be the data representative for the Mulliner department as a whole and start work on a central reporting system. I also plan to spend some time in the IT department to get some hands-on networking experience which is a requirement of my course, as well as 3 months with the board member for manufacturing and his technical assistant.

Placements are a great way to develop existing skills in a new context as well as acquire new ones along the way. They provide knowledge on the workings of the entire company as well as helping you to narrow down your career aspirations by trying out things to see if you like them. They also massively help with growing your network - my experience in different departments means I often know who to contact for support and people are more willing to help if they already know you. It also helps with meeting other Early Careers colleagues (apprentices, industrial placement students and graduates)!

We heard you spent time with the trimming experts in Mulliner during your apprenticeship! Could you share more about the techniques you’ve developed and how they’ve benefitted you both in your work and daily life? ­

I mentioned to my placement manager when I was in Mulliner that I would really like some hands-on experience as this isn't something I get to do day-to-day with my job. I mentioned that I sew in my spare time and he suggested spending some time 'trimming', which can range from sewing the seat covers inside the car to covering the ash frames of the Speed 6 bodies with rexine! During my time there, I got to use all the equipment and even reupholstered the quality inspection table (which was harder than it sounds!).

My apprenticeship has massively helped my studying - having real life industry experience to draw from when writing reports and understanding concepts has been so beneficial. It also means that anything I learn at university can be applied as soon as I get back to work the next day which helps me to keep progressing professionally.

Apprenticeships are invaluable when it comes to developing skills; not only are you learning on the job from experienced colleagues, you're also getting a degree out of it (for free!) and you're getting paid! The soft skills you learn are also applicable to your daily life - doing an apprenticeship has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has improved my confidence and social skills hugely since I started.

Finally, what advice would you give to someone considering applying for Bentley’s apprenticeship program in 2025?

First of all, I would say go for it! Apply, because what's the worst that can happen? Any interviewing experience is good experience. And secondly, just be yourself. I know everyone always says that but it's true. Especially at Bentley, the interviewing process is mainly behaviour focussed so even if you don't have all the right experience, if you're the right kind of person for the role then you have a good chance. Be willing to learn, be enthusiastic and be honest. Don't feel like you have to be someone else to succeed.

As for settling in, yes it is overwhelming and daunting and yes, you'll feel really new at first but that's ok! Everyone will expect it from you. Just keep organised, ask questions and do your best. I would also say always say yes to opportunities even if they seem scary. I used to hate presenting to the point where I would feel sick before standing up in front of people, but when I started work I put myself forward to lead meetings and do presentations and now I'm not phased by it. Push yourself and you won't regret it.

Best of luck!