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Automotive apprenticeships
Levy-payers – employers with a payroll of over £3m per annum are required to pay the levy whether they employ an apprentice or not.
Non-levy payers – employers with a payroll of less than £3m per annum do not have to pay the levy and can access fi nancial support to assist in the recruitment and training of new apprentices and existing employees.
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The Apprenticeship Levy at a glance
Levy-payer Non-levy payer
Salary bill of over £3m per annum Salary bill of under £3m per annum and more than 50 employees Salary bill of under £3m per annum and less than 50 employees
Employer makes a 0.5% contribution of the annual salary bill through PAYE.
Employer uses a digital account to manage apprenticeship funding, see how much is available in the company’s online account and allocate payments to providers of government-approved apprenticeships for the training and development of new or existing apprentices.
For every £1 paid into the levy pot the employer gets £1.10 to spend on apprenticeship training.
On full utilisation of the levy, all additional apprentices are funded with a requirement to contribute 5%. Employer makes a 5% contribution towards the training of apprenticeships for new and existing staff.
£1000 cash incentive for recruitment of or enrolment of an existing employee, aged 16-18, onto an apprenticeship.
£1000 cash incentive for recruitment or enrolment of an existing employee, aged 16–18, onto an apprenticeship. Fully-funded apprenticeship training for new and existing staff aged 16-18.
For apprentices aged 19 or over, the employer makes a 5% contribution to the training.
£1000 cash incentive for recruitment or enrolment of an existing employee, aged 16-18, onto an apprenticeship.
For more information on the apprenticeship levy:
accountmanagers@wolvcoll.ac.uk 01902 837163
As an employer in the automotive industry, offering apprenticeships is a great way to train new staff or upskill existing staff and for the business to benefit from an employee with the latest sector skills and knowledge.
The college offers apprenticeships in three specialisms and the programmes are suitable for staff in small independent businesses, specialist centres or large organisations and dealerships.
Automotive facilities
Autocare Technician – Level 2 Accident Repair Technician – Level 3 Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician (Light Vehicle) -Level 3
Automotive Facilities
The college has a fully operational automotive centre on the Paget Road campus in Compton, Wolverhampton. The centre is equipped with a range of vehicles for students to work on, as well as: • Open-plan mechanical workshops • Spray booths and paint rooms • Fabrication and welding workshops • Air conditioning and electrical repair areas
All of the tutors in the department have worked in the automotive industry and apprentices will not only be taught the latest skills but will benefit from their knowledge and experience too.
AUTOCARE TECHNICIAN - ST0499
Role profile
An autocare technician carries out a range of services and repairs to cars, car derived vans and light goods vehicles, working in an autocare or ‘fast-fit’ centre, which may be part of a national chain or operated by a regional/local independent group/owner. They use a range of tools, measuring and diagnostic equipment to identify & repair simple system faults, and require a unique combination of technical, retail and customer service skills. They have to demonstrate expertise in the technical elements of their role and have a good grasp of the practical and theoretical aspects of the vehicle systems they service, as well as have excellent telephone, customer handling (including how to handle difficult customers and deal with customer disappointment) and effective sales skills, as well as strong problem solving and self-organisation skills. They must be able to work as part of a team but also operate independently, understand how their centre operates from a commercial perspective and how their actions contribute to business results, whilst maintaining a high standard of workmanship.
CORE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE
Apprentices will develop knowledge and understanding of: • Tyre legislation and technical information including EU tyre labelling, tyre pressure monitoring systems, sidewall markings, homologated fitments relating to cars, car derived vans and light goods vehicles. • Fundamentals of specific vehicle systems including steering and suspension, and braking, battery, charging, exhaust and air conditioning systems • Vehicle 4-wheel geometry principles • Basic consumer legislation relevant to the occupation • Appropriate health and safety legislation and requirements for the workplace • Hybrid/electric vehicle system and safe working procedures • Data protection requirements to protect customer and payment information • General sales principles including, identifying customer & vehicle needs, presenting solutions, closing the sale and dealing with buying resistance • How the business works and how you contribute to the overall results, demonstrating commercial awareness • How to carry out vehicle safety inspections and routine maintenance using manufacturers specifications or approved schedules, using vehicle specific data and meeting legal requirements • The importance of following workplace procedures and the consequences of not doing so
SKILLS
Apprentices will gain skills enabling them to: • Contribute to maintaining a healthy and safe workplace, including the maintenance of key equipment and carrying out general housekeeping • Carry out stock procedures including dealing with routine stock deliveries, placing stock into storage, carrying out stock rotation duties and ordering parts for customers following company procedures • Carry out vehicle safety inspections and routine maintenance in line with manufactures specifications or approved schedules, company procedures and complete approved documentation. • Make recommendations to customers based on the results of inspections, ensuring that sales recommendations are accurate and fully costed, ethical and in the best interests
of the customer at all times, and using language that is transparent and avoids jargon. • Carry out replacement/repair and balancing of a range of light vehicle tyres, including ultra-low profile, directional, asymmetric and run-flat tyres fitted to a range of wheel sizes and types • Carry out the replacement of components on a specific range of vehicle systems including steering and suspension, and braking, battery, charging, exhaust and air conditioning systems • Carry out 4-wheel Geometry operations including adjustments on a range of vehicles with different suspension and steering systems • Use a range of specialist tools & equipment, mechanical & electrical measuring tools and diagnostic equipment to support fault identification and repair. • Identify & procure correct parts to meet specific customer requirements • Access vehicle technical data to inform inspections and make judgements on wear and serviceability. • Deal with and resolve low-level customer complaints • Communicate effectively with customers, suppliers and colleagues • Use specific company IT systems within the workplace, including Point-of-sale systems and hand-held devices. • Behave in accordance with company values, industry codes of conduct and demonstrate respect for customers and colleagues. Be courteous at all times and respond quickly to requests or requirements using effective communication skills to win trust and ensure an excellent experience • Work as an effective team member taking responsibility for their own actions, being honest and accountable when issues arise and things don’t go as planned • Commit to learning to improve your own performance and that of the business. Work in an organised way to ensure work is carried out in an effective and efficient manner.
BEHAVIOUR
Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviours: • Act in a manner that promotes the professional image of the automotive sector • Communicate effectively with colleagues and customers on a range of topics including drawing out information to support identification of customer and vehicle needs, making clear recommendations to customers and overcoming objections/ concerns.
SUMMARY
Qualification Level
Autocare Technician Level 2 Diploma 2
Length
Delivery model Entry requirements
Maths and English
Apprentice support and assessment
30 months (excluding end point assessment and depending on prior skills and knowledge) Based in the workplace with one day per week at college A passion for motor vehicle, a willingness to learn and a commitment to a career in the industry Maths and English at GCSE at grade D/3 or above. Candidates without this level will be expected to study the relevant subject as part of the apprenticeship programme Throughout the programme the apprentice will receive expert training from highly qualified staff A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments Progression Full-time employment in the sector Professional body recognition On completion of this Standard the apprentice will be eligible to apply for IMI membership as a registered young professional or, if they wish, an associate member. They would also gain entry onto the IMI professional register.
Employer support
A dedicated account manager will guide and support employers throughout the programme.
ACCIDENT REPAIR TECHNICIAN - ST0352
Role profile
Motor vehicle accident repair technicians repair all elements of a vehicle after it has sustained some type of collision damage, ranging from small damage through to heavily impacted types of damage requiring complex and detailed repair or replacement of major structural elements of the vehicle.
Typically, they work in a modern highly technical workshop-type environment, working on a broad range of vehicles from cars and car derived vans to light commercial vehicles.
Uniquely, they work on and obtain a level of competence in all craft aspects of vehicle accident repair, including mechanical, electrical & trim (MET), panel repair & replacement, preparation and paint – not just one as has been the case in the past.
Technicians must be able to interpret and work accurately to detailed and complex technical repair specifications/instructions and, at times, obtain these instructions from a range of electronic sources, as well as work in a focused, analytical and methodical fashion, completing repairs on time, every time with a right-firsttime, customer focused culture under-pinning all their activities.
They must be able to excel working as part of a team and put complete customer satisfaction, as well as commercial awareness, at the centre of everything they do.
CORE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE
Apprentices will develop knowledge of: • Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET): How
all types of engines and propulsion systems function; how electrically propelled and hybrid vehicles function; how sub systems of lubrication, cooling, fuel, ignition, intake and exhaust systems operate; how transmission, driveline & final drive systems operate; vehicle suspension, steering, brakes, wheels and tyre systems; vehicle electrical principles; vehicle electrical systems and components • Panel Repair & Replacement: Vehicle thermal welding operations & techniques; vehicle bonding and adhesives procedures; vehicle body mechanical fastening operations. • Preparation & Paint: The various types of filler & foundation materials; different materials used in vehicle construction; preparation techniques required for different materials & surfaces; paint, basecoat & topcoats; refinishing process; which techniques & products to employ with each type of repair process. • Cross-cutting: Health and safety in the workplace as it relates to the accident repair environment; structure of their organisation, and where they work within that; tools & equipment and vehicle construction methods used in the accident repair workplace.
SKILLS
Apprentices will gain skills in the following areas: • Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET):
Remove all damaged & associated components from a vehicle; re-assemble replacement or existing components to a vehicle; remove and re-assemble permanent & non-permanent fixed vehicle body panels; remove and refit all types of vehicle body panels; remove and refit trim components; identify and describe principle vehicle electrical components and systems; diagnose and rectify basic vehicle electrical faults. • Panel Repair & Replacement: Repair all types
of vehicle body panels; repair or refurbish trim components; repair vehicles using thermal welding operations and processes; repair vehicles using non thermal joining, bonding and adhesive processes; remove, repair and replace structural body panels; identify and rectify vehicle body structural misalignment. • Preparation & Paint: Apply body filler & foundation materials; prepare all types of vehicle body material; prepare & refinish metal, plastic and pre-painted surfaces; repair minor defects in all types of body panels and materials; apply paint, primer and basecoat; apply topcoats and clear coats and complete final refinishing operations; identify and rectify paint or preparation defects. • Cross-cutting: Carry out their work safely in the workplace and adhere to relevant health and safety requirements; develop strong working relationships.
BEHAVIOUR
Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviours: • Adoption of a good health and safety-first mentality as standard practice • Customer-first approach when dealing with owners of vehicles and other clients • Recognises that high quality is intrinsic in every activity throughout the accident repair process • Strong and positive work ethic • Ability to work in a team and be a good team member • Positive attitude, good aptitude, excellent ambition • Effective communication throughout the repair process, both with clients and with other members of the team
SUMMARY
Qualification Level Length Delivery model Entry requirements
Maths and English
Apprentice support and assessment
Progression Employer support
Accident Repair Technician Apprenticeship 3 24 months (not including the end point assessment) One day per week in college Entry requirements will be set by individual employers, however applicants will need to display a good attitude, a positive approach to learning and development and a high level of ambition. Apprentices without Level 2 maths and English will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end point assessment. Throughout the programme the apprentice will receive expert training from highly qualified staff A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments Full-time employment in the sector A dedicated account manager will guide and support employers throughout the programme.
Role profile
The automotive retail industry provides employment for over half a million employees who work for approximately 70,000 employers. It is a major contributor to the UK economy and with the growing complexity of today’s vehicles, and the pressure to deliver a highquality customer experience, requires the retail automotive sector to attract and train high calibre individuals. A motor vehicle service and maintenance technician services and repairs light vehicles such as cars and vans and works either in dealerships which focus on a particular manufacturer, or in an independent garage which deals with many different makes of vehicles. The technician will work on all the systems found within the vehicle. The day-to-day work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment. The tasks faced are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques. The technician must be able to work independently but also operate as an effective team member and have good customer handling skills. They will understand how their workshop and the dealership/garage functions from a commercial perspective and identify ways in which they can work more efficiently. In smaller garages the technician will report directly to the owner or garage manager and may be called upon to carry out some of the function of the other departments themselves, for example managing their own delivery of parts. In a large dealership the technician will typically report to the workshop controller, who in turn reports to the aftersales manager and liaises with the service reception. Technicians working in large dealerships work with other departments, for example carrying out work for the sales department and ordering parts from the parts department,
CORE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE
Apprentices will develop knowledge and understanding of: • How vehicle service and repair is impacted by legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements, including health and safety law and environmental procedures • The structure of the industry and how the business works from an operational perspective, business targets, the systems and processes that make up the efficient running of a business • How to develop positive working relationships and communicate effectively and how to carry out self-evaluation and improve own performance • The procedures for the maintenance of tools and the workshop • Routine servicing and inspection procedures • Steering and suspension geometries; electrical circuit requirements and calculations • Construction and operation of vehicle components and systems • Common fault types, causes and effects of different types of faults • The implications and legal requirements of fitting accessories and carrying out vehicle modifications • How to diagnose faults using suitable faultfinding strategies • Construction and operation of advanced electrical, braking and suspension systems, engine and transmission systems and engine and gear calculations • Vehicle emissions and legal requirements • Alternative fuels and hybrid and electric systems.
SKILLS
Apprentices will gain skills enabling them to: • Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop • Demonstrate due regard for own safety and that of others in the workshop and minimise risk of injury and vehicle damage • Carry out fundamental tasks associated with removal and replacement procedures on a vehicle • Obtain diagnostic and repair information • Interpret diagnostic information and use electrical wiring diagrams to determine system serviceability • Use a range of diagnostic equipment • Follow recognised diagnostic procedures, logical diagnostic sequence and apply advanced diagnostic principles and problemsolving techniques to establish faults • Report faults using company procedures and recommend suitable further actions. • Follow recognised repair procedures to complete a wide range of repairs including those which involve complex procedures, or in-depth knowledge • Test the function of repaired and fitted components • Adhere to business processes and complete documentation following workplace procedures. • Use ICT to create emails, word-process documents and carry out web-based searches • Complete a range of services and inspect and prepare a vehicle to the required quality standard for handover to the customer
BEHAVIOUR
Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviours: • Take responsibility when required and be honest and accountable when things don’t go as planned • Operate as an effective team member • Behave in accordance with the values of the company and treat colleagues and customers with respect and courtesy • Build effective relationships with colleagues and customers • Gain trust and pay attention to colleagues and customers concerns and needs • Communicate effectively on a range of topics and with all sorts of different people • Deliver excellent results and achieve challenging goals • Contribute to problem solving discussions and enjoy finding solutions to own and other people’s problems • Suggest ways to make the business more efficient and contribute to its commercial growth. • Constantly learn in order to improve own performance and that of the business • Share knowledge and skills • Demonstrate a passion for engineering
SUMMARY
Qualification
Level
Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician (Light Vehicle) Apprenticeship Before the Standard is met, all apprentices must hold a certificate that meets the EU’s 2014 F-gas regulation. 3
Length Delivery model Entry requirements
Maths and English
Apprentice support and assessment
36 months (excluding the end point assessment) One day per week at college Entry requirements will be determined by individual employers, however applicants are expected to have an interest in the motor vehicle industry, demonstrate general analytical and mechanical skills, have a capacity for mechanical reasoning, potential to solve problems, attention to detail, good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team. Apprentices without Level 2 maths and/or English will need to achieve this level prior to starting the end point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or legacy statement, the minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to an English qualification for those for whom this is their primary language. Throughout the programme the apprentice will receive expert training from highly qualified staff A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments Progression Full-time employment in the sector Professional body recognition Completion of the programme will enable apprentices to apply for EngTech professional registration with the appropriate industry body
Employer support
A dedicated account manager will guide and support employers throughout the programme.
