Call for automotive college leavers as motor trade demand for Autotech Academy interns grows

@AcademyAutotech – Automotive students finishing their studies are being offered a career starting step into the motor sector through a unique internship programme. Bringing qualified college leavers and the automotive industry together, Autotech Academy has gained huge interest since its launch earlier this year, with internship roles available in both the independent garage sector, and main dealer groups.

Aimed at students who have completed their Level 2 or 3 automotive qualifications, Autotech Academy is a simple concept and interns will be paid above the minimum hourly rate.

Through Autotech Academy, college leavers are placed into a garage or maintenance repair business on a paid internship lasting from 3 to 12 months, depending on their qualification and area of interest. Autotech Academy will pay the intern a monthly wage, provide them with all the necessary equipment they need including, a Teng Tools tool kit worth over £1,000, and, if required, standard PPE, and uniform.

Ongoing training will also be offered via a manufacturer training course, or an approved OEM standard training partner such as Bosch, and throughout the duration of the placement, a mentor will be appointed to help the intern with their daily work.

At the end of the placement, the intern could be offered full-time employment by the automotive employer. If not, they not only have the theoretical knowledge as a result of their college course, but several months’ worth of experience under their belt to help them secure another automotive role.

As the motor sector’s go-to recruitment and training company, Autotech Group capitalised on its excellent reputation with automotive employers and colleges and launched Autotech Academy as a route to help stem the industry’s skills shortage.

Despite the best efforts of UK colleges, around 10,000 students are lost to other industries each year as they struggle to secure an automotive role. While armed with theoretical knowledge, they have limited practical experience which deters some employers. Autotech Academy is set to smooth out these bottlenecks, and create a cohort of skilled, experienced vehicle technicians which will help sustain the future of the industry.

“The automotive industry needs a solution to the skills shortage,” comments Gavin White, CEO of Autotech Group, “Far from being a replacement to apprenticeship programmes, Autotech Academy offers college leavers the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned at college in the workplace and gain valuable experience. With the automotive industry expecting a busy period, we have already received a huge number of requests for interns and are keen to work with colleges and students to fulfil these opportunities.”