Apprentice Service Advisor Sophie Gets Stuck In!

When Sophie Simmonds, 18, joined Stoke Audi as an apprentice Service Advisor, she probably didn’t expect that after less than two weeks in the role, she’d be servicing her own car!

Stoke Audi Aftersales Manager, Martin Scott explained,

“As a Service Advisor you spend your working day talking to customers about their cars telling them what work needs to be, or has been done; we thought the best way for Sophie to learn about what goes on when a car come in for service, was to throw her in at the deep-end.

“With the help of our Master Technician, Steve Smith, Sophie completed her own vehicle’s health check and an Audicam video. With Steve directing her and overseeing everything, ensuring it was done safely and correctly, Sophie serviced her own car”!

Sophie came to the apprentice role with no previous experience in the motor trade, having completed her ‘A’ levels, whilst working in a supermarket at weekends.

She was looking for a career where she would be talking to customers and wanted a local friendly business, Sophie explained, “The apprenticeship at Stoke Audi was perfect for me, the dealership is part of Swansway Motor Group, which is a family owned business”.

“The Audi brand is really prestigious and the dealership is a state-of-the-art place to work. I must admit that when I got the job, I never thought I’d end up servicing my own car, but it was fantastic and I’ve learnt so much by getting stuck in and doing it myself. I now know what’s entailed in a service, what the components are and the order a service is done in, I can even explain the hygroscopic elements of brake fluid”!

“I want to say a big thank you to Chris Long, who is my mentor, for organising this and to Steve Smith for being so patient explaining everything! I’ve learnt more in one day, than I probably would have done in a month”, added Sophie.

Swansway Motor Group operate in the North West and West Midlands representing 14 brands from 22 locations, they offer apprenticeships across a wide range of disciplines.