Christ Church, Burney Lane, B8 2AS
Pathways to Progress
On Sunday 18 October at 3 PM, Ali Osman joins our Pathways to Progress programme at Christ Church, Burney Lane, for a session on degree apprenticeships and careers in engineering. Ali is an Electrical Degree Apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and he'll be sharing what it's really like to earn a degree while working for one of the UK's best-known car makers.
Ali grew up in Birmingham and went to Hodge Hill College before studying Maths, Physics and Design & Technology at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School. Alongside his studies he built an impressive track record: a place on the Sutton Trust's Pathways to Engineering programme with the University of Warwick, the University of Cambridge's STEM SMART programme, and the University of Birmingham's Road to the Professions, as well as becoming an Amos Bursary scholar. He completed work experience in aero operations with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, competed in F1 in Schools, refereed for the Birmingham County FA, worked in retail and even ran his own small business before leaving school.
In September 2026 Ali started JLR's Applied Professional Engineering Programme (APEP), a Level 6 degree apprenticeship delivered with the University of Warwick. He's based in Test Operations at the Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory, where he supports the testing of vehicle components and gets hands-on engineering experience every day.
A degree apprenticeship lets you work for an employer and study for a full bachelor's degree at the same time. JLR's APEP lasts four years and leads to a BEng (Hons) from the University of Warwick. Apprentices are paid from day one (currently £26,092 a year, rising each year), JLR pays all tuition fees, and no previous work experience is needed. Pathways include Product Design and Development, Electrical or Electronic Technical Support, Control Technical Support, and Manufacturing, at sites across the West Midlands and in Halewood. Applicants need GCSE Maths and English at grade 5 or above, A level Maths at grade B or above, and a second A level at grade C or above in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or Design & Technology. JLR also offers a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship and degree apprenticeships in Digital and Technology Solutions and in Supply Chain and Procurement.
JLR recruits once a year, and apprentices start each September. Applications for the September 2027 intake are expected to open in early 2027 (January to February) and usually close in February or March, but programmes can close early if they receive a lot of applications, so it pays to be ready. You can only apply once per recruitment cycle. The process is an online application (no CV or cover letter needed), short online tests, and an online assessment centre with a presentation and an interview. In recent years JLR has offered around 300 apprenticeship places a year in the UK, and over 800 young people joined its apprentice, undergraduate and graduate programmes in 2023.
JLR is the British company behind Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar. It is headquartered in Coventry, has been owned by Tata Motors since 2008, and describes itself as the UK's largest investor in automotive research, development and engineering. Its cars are designed and engineered at Gaydon in Warwickshire and built in Solihull, where Land Rover production began in 1947, and Halewood, while its Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton makes the motors and batteries for its electric vehicles. JLR is ranked 8th in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026.
Whether you're thinking about university, an apprenticeship, or you're still working out your next step, come along with your questions and hear from someone who was in your shoes just a few months ago.