Automotive Engineering

A career as a mechanic or vehicle repair means guaranteeing a future of steady work as a mechanic. Slumps in the economy can affect people buying new cars, but vehicles will always require maintenance and repair. If you enjoy meeting different people every day, being ‘hands on’, working with cutting edge technology, or have a creative eye and a love of restoration – then a career working with any vehicle is waiting for you.

The motor vehicle departments at Newtown and Brecon Beacon Beacons College also have fully equipped workshops with four post, two post and scissor-style vehicle lifts, diagnostic testing equipment from Bosch, Crypton, Pico, Autel and ASNU ultrasonic injector cleaning facilities. The Newtown Campus also has a fully functional MOT-style ATL testing bay and dedicated diagnostics area.

The Motor Vehicle department has grown in 2022 with the eagerly awaited delivery of a dedicated electric vehicle electric rig and a Peugeot 208 vehicle to support the learning and training opportunities for new electric vehicle technologies. Now learners will have even more opportunities to learn about the vehicles and their latest technologies.

What will I do?

Our courses aim to explore a vehicle’s construction and accurately repair damage to the vehicle and its body ready for finishing. You will complete a series of assignments and practical tasks carried out in excellent facilities.

Career opportunities

Employment for mechanics is usually with garages, transport companies, road haulage companies or large organisations with fleets of vehicles. At technician level you will perform skilled diagnostic work, including work on electronic and computer controlled systems. The work is challenging and logical, involving a lot of problem solving. In larger companies, it is usually possible to gain promotion to supervisory and management roles.

Average annual earnings

Mechanic £13k - £30k (Emsi - economicmodeling.com) Automotive Engineer £60k+ in senior roles (Prospects.ac.uk) Vehicle Paint Technicians £18k - £40k (Emsi - economicmodeling.com)

Be mecHAnical... wITh a cAReer IN mecHAnics, cARs OR body repair

Automotive Engineering

Level 3 Motor Vehicle students at Newtown College got a rare opportunity to learn more about future electric battery operated technologies when they got to view an electric conversion of a classic Fiat 500 thanks to Electric Classic Cars of Mid Wales.

The Fiat 500 has all the character of a classic with a modern twist. The motor is mounted at the back (giving more luggage space at the front), and includes three battery packs with a hidden charge point under the Fiat badge. The students took a keen interest in the set up, with the speed and power advantages of electric quickly realised. As a classic enthusiast, Tom Watkins, technician at the College, took particular interest.

Dan Pritchard, Motor Vehicle lecturer, said that training in hybrids and electrics was "an area the College was currently looking into. This new vehicle technology is going to play an important role in the future of the industry and it’s great to see examples of classics like the Fiat converted, and to know that this and others are available to view on our doorstep".

Electric Classic Cars is based in mid Wales and has produced a number of classic conversions which include a 911 Porsche, a 1972 Range Rover and a BMW E9. The business owned by Richard Morgan has quickly grown and Richard said how important it was that students now learn about electric vehicles to support both current builds and conversions: "There will be a greater demand in the forthcoming years for this knowledge and it's surprising how many misconceptions already exist about battery powered cars."

CoursES

Career-Focused Courses

Automotive Engineering

Automotive Engineering

Automotive Engineering

Level Entry Requirements Duration Location

1 GCSEs grade D/E or above is desirable, but practical experience is also considered 1 Year Brecon/ Newtown 2 4 GCSEs grade C or above is desirable, but practical experience is also considered 1 Year Brecon/ Newtown

3 5 GCSEs grade C or above are desirable, but practical experience is also considered. 1 Year Brecon

“We were delighted to become the first college in Wales at the beginning of 2020 to offer training with the block automotive electric and hybrid vehicle training equipment. We have had the pleasure of training vocational students and industry professionals in Levels 1-4 award in electric/ hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement.” Lecturer, Dan Pritchard