Black Country duo work on BMW i8 engines

Rory Hobbs, from Halesowen, and James Law from Wolverhampton, having successfully completed apprenticeships at BMW Plant Hams Hall are now in technical roles as part of the production team building engines for the new car.

The i8, the first purpose-built, plug-in hybrid sports car from BMW, went on sale this weekend, powered by engines produced at Hams Hall, near Birmingham.

A brand-newe production facility has been developed at the Hams Hall plant for the world-wide production of the new three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo technology petrol engines - the first of a new generation of engines to be built at the plant.

Plant director, Nick Spencer, said: "Our plant is going through a huge transformation, and we are excited to see the first of our brand-new engine assembly facilities ramping up production. With the exclusive supply of these engines coming from the Hams Hall plant, we are proud to be contributing to this innovative new sports car."

Each engine is built by a small team of people, all of whom previously worked at the plant and have been specifically recruited and trained to work on the new engines. The two technical apprentices who spent the final year of their training programme working on the development of the new production area are now placed in full-time technical jobs within the new team having successfully completed their apprenticeships.

James Law said: "It has been a fantastic opportunity to see this new engine manufacturing facility being installed and I'm thrilled to have successfully completed my apprenticeship and to be working in such an interesting, technical role within the new team."