Business Minister Michael Fallon makes first visit to MINI Plant Oxford
31 May 2013
Today, MINI Plant Oxford welcomed Business Minister Michael Fallon MP on his first visit to the factory which is celebrating a century of car-making this year.
Managing Director, Frank Bachmann and a number of first-year apprentices gave Mr Fallon a tour of the plant including its recently-opened state-of-the-art training facilities.
New investment at the factory represents the lion’s share of a BMW Group £750 million UK investment programme which involves building an extension to the bodyshop and implementing a raft of technological upgrades to its paintshop and assembly operations.
The Business Minister said, “It is very encouraging to see BMW Group’s continued investment in production and training facilities at the Oxford plant. It is a clear sign that UK manufacturing here, supported by government through the Regional Growth Fund, is flourishing. It is also very heartening to see the passion and enthusiasm of the next generation of engineers and apprentices.”
Frank Bachmann, who joined the plant as its Managing Director in October last year, said, “We are all proud to see this major investment and development programme coming to fruition as the plant celebrates 100 years of car making. This facility and our teams here can look forward to a bright future as we prepare the ground for exciting new models set for launch over the coming years.”
The new training school is being used by apprentices and a number of the plant’s 4,000 employees and contains fully-equipped workshops and classroom areas.
Apprentice Natalie Murray showed the Minister around the facilities and introduced him to apprentices demonstrating their skills after nearly one year on the apprenticeship scheme.
Natalie, 23, who is following a three-year engineering course, said, “Over the last year I have learnt so much, including mechanical principles, hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics. One of our most recent projects has looked at how to build electronic circuit boards, and that’s what we showed the Minister today.
“I’ve always been interested in engineering and the apprenticeship at MINI Plant Oxford is an ideal way to turn theory into hands-on practice and build a career at the same time.”
Business Minister Michael Fallon makes first visit to MINI Plant Oxford
31 May 2013
Today, MINI Plant Oxford welcomed Business Minister Michael Fallon MP on his first visit to the factory which is celebrating a century of car-making this year.
Managing Director, Frank Bachmann and a number of first-year apprentices gave Mr Fallon a tour of the plant including its recently-opened state-of-the-art training facilities.
New investment at the factory represents the lion’s share of a BMW Group £750 million UK investment programme which involves building an extension to the bodyshop and implementing a raft of technological upgrades to its paintshop and assembly operations.
The Business Minister said, “It is very encouraging to see BMW Group’s continued investment in production and training facilities at the Oxford plant. It is a clear sign that UK manufacturing here, supported by government through the Regional Growth Fund, is flourishing. It is also very heartening to see the passion and enthusiasm of the next generation of engineers and apprentices.”
Frank Bachmann, who joined the plant as its Managing Director in October last year, said, “We are all proud to see this major investment and development programme coming to fruition as the plant celebrates 100 years of car making. This facility and our teams here can look forward to a bright future as we prepare the ground for exciting new models set for launch over the coming years.”
The new training school is being used by apprentices and a number of the plant’s 4,000 employees and contains fully-equipped workshops and classroom areas.
Apprentice Natalie Murray showed the Minister around the facilities and introduced him to apprentices demonstrating their skills after nearly one year on the apprenticeship scheme.
Natalie, 23, who is following a three-year engineering course, said, “Over the last year I have learnt so much, including mechanical principles, hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics. One of our most recent projects has looked at how to build electronic circuit boards, and that’s what we showed the Minister today.
“I’ve always been interested in engineering and the apprenticeship at MINI Plant Oxford is an ideal way to turn theory into hands-on practice and build a career at the same time.”