2017 Apprenticeship Open Day
Things aren’t always what they seem
Many people associate dodgy back street garages with the vehicle accident repair industry, but the reality couldn’t be more different. With the increasing complexity & technological advances in new vehicles, the safety critical nature of the industry and the push to deliver proactive, class leading customer service, Alton Cars continually invest in its premises, equipment, processes & people.
Vehicle repair takes some beating
The vehicle body repair industry offers a wide range of interesting and varied career opportunities in both business & technical environments, with the most hardworking & skilled technicians earning in excess of £50k per annum. We place real emphasis on promoting within and career progression too, offering a range of training schemes such as our new Management Development Programme which looks to utilise the knowledge & experience of workshop staff. We look after our employees and it’s no coincidence that the majority of staff have been with us over 10 years.
Reach for the stars
The futures bright at Alton Cars! We’ve always given youth a chance and currently employ 10 apprentices… indeed many of our most skilled workshop technicians have come through the apprentice scheme. Apprentice paint technician Mike Massey from our Ashbourne branch won gold at this year’s prestigious IMI UK Auto Skills final from literally thousands of applicants, a truly exceptional result. Mike describes the experience of winning the competition, “the whole medal ceremony was full of so many different emotions. It was truly inspiring to see so many competitors who are in training, but at the top of their game! So many different trades and skill sets on show. I felt I had performed well and was pleased with my work but with spending a lot of time with the other competitors in my area I knew how tough the competition was. It was anyone's game! I didn't want to get my hopes up about potentially winning a medal, but as I said before, I thought I performed well so there was a chance of perhaps scraping into the top 3.
When the names were being read out - bronze winner, then silver winner - and my name hadn't been called out I thought there was no chance mine was coming next. With my heart racing and my hands sweating I sat tense on the edge of my chair in anticipation. As the gold medal winner was announced and it was my name called I heard an explosion of cheers from my girlfriend who was sat miles away, but sounded like she was next to me! I turned round to look for her but caught a glimpse of my college tutors who looked like football fans at a stadium, nearly falling over the chairs in front with their fists clenched and arms in the air in celebration. I was absolutely ecstatic! Pride, relief, delight, shock all in one. A moment that keeps running through my head.“ Mike adds “I wouldn't be where I am without the support or guidance from Chesterfield College Accident Repair Team and the fantastic backing of my employers Alton Cars Ltd - so a massive genuine Thank You.“
Try it for yourself
Alton Cars are hosting an Apprenticeship Open Day at our flagship Leeds site on Saturday 11th March 2017, presenting a unique opportunity for 15+ year olds to experience the industry first hand and explore the exciting career opportunities it has to offer:
Attendees will be able to try their hand at different skills and repair techniques such as learning how to colour match, use a spray gun, diagnose vehicle faults, dismantle & reassemble modern vehicles and much more under the watchful eye of our highly skilled technicians.
A full complement of the biggest names in the business such as PPG, 3M, LKQ, Audatex & Car-O-Liner will have their own stands with interactive demonstrations, giving you an insight into their role within the industry.
With representatives from all areas of the vehicle repair industry, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss the things that matter to you, including other areas of the business such as Customer Services, Parts, Engineering, Management, etc.
A selection of exotic cars will be on show including a Williams F1 car, a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a Mercedes AMG GT & a Bentley Continental GT!!
There’ll be a state-of- the-art F1 Simulator onsite, with a whole host of competitions and prizes on offer!
Our aim is to inform and inspire attendees, giving them a better idea as to whether this is a career path they might want to pursue…
A government backed apprenticeship scheme
The AutoRaise Apprenticeship standard is an attractive, meaningful and fit for purpose scheme developed specifically for the vehicle repair industry. As such, it’s the only apprentice scheme that’s government backed in our sector.
The initial apprenticeships run for 2 years. In the first year, successful applicants will work across several areas of the business, with this multi-discipline approach adopted so Apprentices can see what they enjoy, what suits their skillset and to give them a rounded understanding of the business. In the second year Apprentices can then look to specialise in 2 or 3 areas to develop the professional skills required.
Further details of the AutoRaise Apprenticeship standard can be found at their website too… www.careers.autoraise.co.uk
