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 MINI Aceman.
Pupils build an electric vehicle, complete with a battery and charging point.
The class puts creativity into action by designing cars of the future.
"Talk to your children about your work and the jobs of friends and family. When you’re at the doctor, the vet, a shop or a restaurant, encourage them to notice the different roles people have and what their jobs involve. Invite them to ask friends and family about what they do. Help them notice what they’re interested in – and what they recoil from."
"Don’t just focus on grades and exam results. Pay attention to the activities, subjects and problems your child naturally gravitates towards and help them understand the strengths behind them. Interests developed early can eventually point towards careers or education routes neither you nor they had considered. At 15, our oldest suddenly announced she wanted to try farming after seeing Clarkson’s Farm. We dropped her off at the local farm to check on sheep with their Shepherdess one morning and she’s been there every spare hour since. Now she’s at agricultural college."
“What do you want to be when you grow up? – We’ve all asked this, but it’s a question loaded with judgment and as a child, whatever you say can feel like the wrong answer. Instead, ask about what they’re into at the moment, what their friends are interested in and what activities they enjoy."
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.
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.
