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COVID-19 did not stop my Apprenticeship
20/08/2020 - 11:41

Kundai Simba works at Allen Ford where he is studying for a Vehicle Parts Advanced Apprenticeship which he is due to complete next year.

Working as a parts advisor

“Great customer service is an important part of this role and, as a parts advisor, I really enjoy working with customers who are looking to fix or improve their cars. My job involves giving advice and providing the necessary parts.

“The car industry is changing constantly, and when working for a big dealer group like Allen Ford, you need to ensure you can adapt to change. We are always striving to update...

Adam Barnstone: Ford Apprentice to Technician
19/02/2020 - 16:52

Adam Barnstone completed his light vehicle maintenance apprenticeship at Lookers Ford in Chelmsford in 2018. He now works at the same dealership as a diagnostic technician and workshop controller and is now even responsible for an apprentice of his own. He told us more about his career journey so far.

A practical career

“I’ve always had a keen interest in cars and the mechanical side of things. When I was younger, I built bikes and scooters – it wasn’t something I picked up from a family member, I just liked messing around in the garage with my Dad’s old tools!

I decided to...

Lauren Bone - Ford Apprentice to Commercial Sales
07/11/2019 - 11:36

Lauren Bone now works as a Commercial Sales Consultant at Edwards Ford in Salisbury. She did her Apprenticeship in Vehicle Sales at the dealership, qualifying in 2017. After finishing her Apprenticeship, Lauren left the company to concentrate on a job in car sales, but she returned to Edwards Ford a year later after realising she’s much happier working in commercial sales.

She had a very positive experience in her Apprenticeship; however, in the beginning, Lauren had never expected an Apprenticeship would be for her:

After leaving college, I knew I didn’t want to go to...

A Day In The Life Of An Automotive Apprentice
28/10/2019 - 11:45

You may be wondering what happens when you’ve finished your Apprenticeship? What will your day be like? If you’re wondering what to expect from your job after you’ve completed your Apprenticeship, we’ve been talking to Rob Pallant-Bright , a light vehicle technician working at Lookers Ford Braintree who qualified in 2019. We chatted to him and asked him what he does on an average day:

The dealership opens at 8am, so I usually get to work somewhere between 7:30am and 7:45am to make sure I’m ready to start at 8am. The first thing that happens is the Workshop Controller gives out the...

Rob Pallant-Bright: An Award-Winning Apprentice
29/07/2019 - 09:17

Rob Pallant-Bright has just completed his light vehicle apprenticeship which he started in 2016. He works at Lookers in Braintree and studied on the Ford Dealer Apprenticeship Programme at the Henry Ford Academy.

He was a later entrant to the motor industry, having begun his career doing a completely different type of apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery. However, after two years, Rob decided it wasn’t something he really wanted to do, and when he was 21, he opted to change career and take up an apprenticeship with Ford.

He decided to go into the motor...

Liz Barr: Her Journey To Becoming the General Manager
28/06/2019 - 10:18

Liz Barr joined P J Nicholls in Tewkesbury 16 years ago as a sales administrator. Thanks to continuing training and development, she is now the branch’s General Manager and is working towards becoming Group General Manager.

She is very grateful to her employers for the educational opportunities she’s been able to pursue: “Personal development is important to me, and my company has given me the opportunity to study for a BSc in Automotive Dealership Management which has benefitted both myself and the business.”

As General Manager, she oversees the day-to-day...

Abi Curson: HR Manager
05/06/2019 - 09:52

Abi Curson is the HR Manager for the Sandicliffe dealership in Loughborough. Abi began her career as a part-time payroll and HR administrator, and she did so well in this role, the company offered to pay for her training, firstly her Certificate in Personnel Practice and then her degree.

Five years ago, she went on to do the Team Leader and Management apprenticeship with Skillnet, which has given her some great opportunities and enabled her to progress further. Abi’s career path demonstrates that apprenticeships are not just for school leavers - anyone of any age and at...

Jason Stephenson Case Study
03/06/2019 - 17:08

Jason, who is now the Customer Viewpoint Technician and Master Technician at Gates of Harlow, began his motor trade career as an apprentice at Oaklands College in Welwyn Garden City in 1998.

His career has advanced steadily as his skills and experience have grown – after completing his apprenticeship, he became a Technician, then trained as a Master Technician and now combines his job as a Master Technician with his role as Customer Viewpoint Technician. He says the apprenticeship has been really useful to his career advancement: “Starting as an apprentice allowed me to...

Peter Bosher - From apprentice to boss!
22/05/2019 - 14:25

Peter is now the Director of Frank G Gates Ltd, but initially he began his career as an apprentice way back in 1978. This goes to show that apprenticeships can take you anywhere!

Moving all the way up to the top of the career ladder was a steady and sure path for Peter. After his four-year RTITB apprenticeship, he went on to become a qualified technician and then an MOT tester. Still learning, he progressed into workshop control, then service management and a group aftersales role. Peter became Operations Manager in 2004, and in 2017 he joined the Board of Directors at Frank G...

Shelley White - Case Study
13/05/2019 - 09:49
Shelley White began her career as a Service Advisor at F G Gates in Harlow, before being promoted to her current role there as Workshop Controller. Her job involves organising the workloads within the workshop, answering any technical queries and dealing with customer reviews. She is simply one of the team and has never thought her colleagues treat her differently. However, sometimes customers appear to have a hard time adjusting: “I have never had to deal with sexism from staff during my 11 years at Gates, but customers occasionally treat me differently because I’m a woman. Some people...