John Beckley
Field Product Engineer, BMW (UK) Ltd
Job description
To ensure all BMW vehicle technical issues within the UK and Southern Ireland are resolved.
To provide remote and onsite expert technical diagnostic support to the BMW (UK) Dealer Network.
To provide assistance to BMW Technical Managers, public authorities and to all other BMW internal departments.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities in your job?
I provide technical support to dealerships and specialist BMW projects. If I am unable to provide a solution to a technical issue via telephone conversations, or BMW’s internet-based help portal, I will travel to the dealership. I have to manage many jobs at one time so it is important to prioritise my work-load to ensure we provide high levels of customer satisfaction and that all issues are dealt with fully.
Describe a typical day?
Everyday is different. There is a lot of travelling involved in my job; I could be in Dublin working on a customer's vehicle one day, in the BMW head office in Bracknell the next and in Scotland assisting with a television filming project the day after. I have been lucky to be involved in a number of interesting projects, for example, I helped prepare a BMW 330d for the BBC television programme Top Gear, which was being driven by James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond in a 24 hour race at Silverstone. I was also involved with the television programme Race to Dakar, where I prepared and maintained the X5 Support vehicle for Charley Boorman and the production team throughout the making of the programme. There are other times when I have to work on vehicles at head office, for example, police vehicles and VIP customers.
What qualifications and training do you have?
After my GCSEs I went on to complete a four year apprenticeship with BMW between 1996 and 2000. I also completed a BTEC (Engineering Diploma) and an NVQ Level 2 and 3 in motor vehicle engineering. I am also currently studying for a German language qualification.
During my training I won 'Apprentice of the Year' in 2000 and was also awarded second place in the National BMW Apprentice Project Competition.
After completing my apprenticeship, I received ongoing training from the BMW Group Academy UK. In my current position, I work very closely with the BMW plants in Germany. This means that I travel frequently to Germany to train with the engineers. In 2005, as a result of factory training I became an Expert Tool Community member, which means that I am one of only 38 people outside of Germany who are able to use factory diagnosis tools.
How did you begin your career with BMW?
After completing my apprenticeship I worked as a service advisor in a BMW dealership. I then moved to the Product Development and Test Centre and in 2003 I became a Senior Technician. During my career I’ve also completed work experience with the BMW Williams F1 Team.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in the automotive industry?
If you are interested in the engineering side of the motor industry it is important to undertake a BMW apprenticeship, or study for an engineering degree.
To get an overall picture of the motor industry it is a good idea to get some work experience at a dealership or the head office of a company, as this will help you to learn more about the company and the industry as a whole. It takes hard work and commitment to see you through!