Children starting school today could be applying for their first apprenticeships in 2036. Since 2016, BMW Group UK has supported more than 3,300 apprentices across its UK business and retailer network so is well placed help families navigate the changing world of work.
Apprentice 2036 is a BMW Group UK initiative designed to inspire children to explore how things work, solve problems and imagine what they could create in the future.
New BMW Group UK research suggests parents are beginning to think about their children’s working lives earlier than previous generations. Ages four to six are now the most common point for parents to start considering their child’s future career, while half of parents of young adults recall starting when their child was aged 15–18.
This is not about asking young children to choose a career. It is about giving them the freedom to discover different interests, build useful skills and see the possibilities open to them.
That early exposure matters in a changing world. Nearly half of parents (49%) say they do not know which skills their child will need in the future workplace.
Through Apprentice 2036, BMW Group UK wants to help families explore those skills in an accessible, practical and playful way.
To launch Apprentice 2036, BMW Group UK welcomed Year 1 pupils from Grazeley Church of England Primary School to the BMW Group Academy UK in Reading for The Spark Lab – a hands-on electric-vehicle engineering workshop created especially for five and six-year-olds.
The children became Mini Engineers for the day. They investigated real electric vehicles, identified parts including the battery and charging point, built their own LEGO electric cars and designed vehicles for the future. Along the way, they explored three skills parents most want children to develop from a young age: problem-solving, communication and creativity.
Young Mini Engineers investigate the features of a BMW iX3 and MINI.
Pupils build an electric vehicle, complete with a battery and charging point.
The class puts creativity into action by designing cars of the future.
You don’t need a workshop to start thinking like an engineer. Take a closer look at an electric car together and see if you can identify its different features – from the battery and charging point to the wheels, lights and brakes.
Then, encourage your child to put their imagination to work by designing a car of the future. What could it do? How would it move? And what could make it kinder to the planet?
Download the Apprentice 2036 activity sheet to investigate the features of an electric car and create your own future design.
An apprenticeship can combine recognised qualifications, practical experience and a salary from day one. BMW Group UK opportunities span automotive technology, manufacturing and engineering, marketing and communications.
Keep curiosity moving with simple activities, stories and trusted STEM resources that make building, making and problem-solving part of everyday play.
