Ofsted awards its highest accolade to BMW Group Academy UK

The BMW Group Academy UK today (17 March 2008) has been awarded the highest
overall grade by Ofsted for its 'outstanding' provision in training and
development, with no key areas for improvement identified.


This rare accolade by Ofsted, with Grade 1 'outstanding' awards across all
areas of provision, ensures that the BMW Group Academy UK remains the benchmark
in the automotive sector. The Ofsted inspection judged over 80 per cent of
training lessons observed to be outstanding.


Publication of today's report coincides with a visit to the Academy by Chris
Humphries, Chief Executive of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
From April 2008, the Commission will play a critical role in securing a world
class profile for the UK on skills by 2020 and the aspiration of an 80 per cent
employment rate.


Steve Nash, Aftersales Director BMW (UK) Ltd, said: "We're delighted to have
achieved an overall 'outstanding' grade for the second time. Recruitment and
retention of skilled people are critical issues facing the retail automotive
sector and providing the best learning experience is integral to the continued
success of both our dealer network and BMW UK. Furthermore, this achievement
is further recognition of the company's continued commitment to the UK skills
agenda."


The recognition of the Academy as a world class training venue, maintains BMW
Group's excellence in the provision of a high quality learning and development
environment for its dealer network and its own workforce. In 2004, the
government's Adult Learning Inspectorate awarded BMW with an overall
'outstanding' grade 1. Only a handful of training organisations across the
country have repeated this success.


The Ofsted inspection commended BMW Group's industry-leading dealer
apprenticeship retention rate of over 90 per cent. Those apprentices who go on
to join the Technical Institute were found to be seven times more likely to
stay with the business than those who were not on a programme.


The inspection also highlighted BMW's outstanding results on its bodyshop and
service advanced apprenticeships, with an anticipated success rate of over 90
per cent in 2007/2008. Achievement rates for all programmes at NVQ Level Two
were running consistently at 100 per cent.

The BMW UK has also been awarded a third 'Beacon Award' by the Improvement
Development Agency and is the only motor manufacturer to achieve this status.
The Academy also came top of BMW Group's Training Quality Index, outperforming
all other BMW Group training establishments worldwide.

The Academy is actively involved in new initiatives such as the New Standards
for employers, an assessment framework designed to recognise and celebrate the
best organisations delivering training and development solutions to employers.
BMW UK was asked to apply as part of the Employer Pilot in November 2007 and
the results will be published in April 2008.

Ends
Editors' Note:
The full Ofsted inspection report on the BMW Group Academy UK can be found at
www.ofsted.gov.uk

The BMW Group Academy UK is a purpose-built training and development facility
which represents an investment by the BMW Group of £17 million. It provides all
technical and non-technical training for the BMW, MINI and motorcycle dealer
networks and to BMW Group's employees throughout the UK.

Based at De Vere's Wokefield Park, near Reading, the BMW Group Academy UK is
5,400 square metre site and contains 32 bays over six workshops, 22 training
rooms and BMW, MINI and motorcycle showrooms to simulate BMW, MINI and
Motorcycle working dealer environments.

Over 16,500 apprentices and delegates have attended courses at the BMW Group
Academy UK since it officially opened in May 2006. Between 350 and 400
apprentices attend annually.