WORK EXPERIENCE WEEK AT BENTLEY MOTORS: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Bentley Motors recently welcomed 13 students aged 16–18 to its annual Work Experience Week, offering them the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into a wide range of career pathways across the business.
Throughout the week, students were immersed in departments including Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality and Aftersales, working alongside colleagues and experiencing day-to-day life at Bentley. Alongside their placements, students also took part in a programme of activities delivered by the Early Careers team, including employability sessions and an introduction to the heritage, craftsmanship and bespoke world of Mulliner.
We spoke with three of this year's students Max, Isabelle and Xen about their experiences, key learnings and future aspirations.
Why Bentley?
Max applied after researching degree apprenticeship opportunities:
"I'm very hands-on and like learning on the job, Bentley came up when I was looking at degree apprenticeships, so I thought it was perfect for me and my future plans."
Xen was keen to understand how different areas of the business work together:
"I wanted to gain an insight of how production worked and the logistics in the background.”
For Isabelle, the placement offered an opportunity to explore her ambitions:
"I've known for quite a while that I want to go into the automotive industry when I finish my studies, and I have always wanted to do an apprenticeship."
Gaining Real-World Experience
Max worked within interior trim learning about cutting machines, leather hides and the craftsmanship involved in Bentley interiors. Meanwhile, Isabelle gained experience within Logistics, supporting SAP transactions and team planning processes. Xen spent the week across several logistics teams, exploring everything from technical logistics and sustainability to material flow and vehicle distribution.
Xen shared some skills he took away from his experience:
"We did a few tasks on Excel and were taught how to put prompts into AI properly, so it doesn't ask as many follow-up questions and gives a more specific detailed answer."
Isabelle shared:
"Being welcomed in was probably one of the best bits for me and being able to get involved and not just be watching from the sidelines."
Max agreed, adding:
"I've had previous work experience where I just shadowed someone, but here I have learnt hands-on."
Experiencing Bentley's Culture
Alongside developing technical skills, the students gained insight into Bentley's collaborative culture.
Max was particularly struck by the relationships within his team:
"You can tell there is an etiquette of respect between employees and colleagues. They have all taken the time to get to know each other personally and not just on a professional level."
Similarly, Isabelle highlighted the supportive environment she experienced:
"The team I was with are tight-knit and all support each other. It's shown me a different level of how everybody comes together."
Looking Ahead
For all three students, the experience helped reinforce their future career ambitions.
Max explained:
"I already knew I wanted to do a degree apprenticeship in a design-based role, but now this experience has confirmed it."
For Xen, the experience helped him identify the route he would like to pursue in the future.
"I definitely want to do a degree apprenticeship and it's solidified that I'd like to work in supply chain management or project management."
Advice for Future Applicants
When asked what advice they would give to future work experience students, all three encouraged others to make the most of the opportunity.
"I would 100% recommend it. You won't get an experience like this again or in many other companies and you feel like an equal," said Max.
Isabelle added:
"Go for it. It's work experience where you get involved and get hands-on."
And Xen:
"Definitely apply. You don't just get an insight into the department you've applied to, but also gain an insight into the company as a whole."
A huge thank you to all Bentley colleagues who supported this year's Work Experience Week and helped create a valuable and memorable experience for the next generation of talent.
Interested in Work Experience at Bentley?
Bentley Motors is proud to support the next generation of talent through immersive work experience programmes designed to inspire, inform, and equip students for the future world of work. For more information about upcoming opportunities, visit  Early Careers at Bentley