Motor traders who have been in the business for a number of years know that keeping up with industry news is one thing, but training is of the utmost importance if you want to succeed. Apprenticeships are therefore a great way to get young people involved in the motor trade industry as they can learn first-hand the ins and outs of the job, as well as secure full-time employment and qualifications at the end of the scheme.
This is why the Blackshaws dealership based in Alnwick, Northumberland has announced that they are offering two lucky people the chance to join their company through two different apprenticeship schemes. The first apprenticeship will be based in the sales team, where the candidate will be provided with extensive training and be enrolled in a sales apprenticeship programme at Newcastle College. The second apprenticeship is for a technician, where the candidate will receive training both from the dealership’s high-tech workshop and the Doncaster training centre, and will work towards an NVQ Level 3 Maintenance and Repair of Light Vehicles, an IMI Training Certificate and an Advanced Apprenticeship Completion Certificate.
The Blackshaws dealership has been providing apprenticeships for a number of years, with twelve members of the current team securing their jobs through apprenticeships when they first started in the motor trade industry. For example, Bill Newlands joined Blackshaws as an apprentice technician at the age of fifteen back in 1957, and has worked at the dealership ever since. He said: “I remember my apprenticeship with great fondness, learning my trade and working in the real-life environment of the Blackshaws workshop and the classroom at Ashington Mining School. It was a terrific way to learn the ropes and gave me all the skills I needed to go on to a terrific career. I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to any young people with an interest in the motor trade.”
Meanwhile, Operations Manager William Blackshaw, who also joined the motor trade as an apprentice, said: “We know from long experience that a good apprenticeship makes for a good employee and that’s why so many of the current Blackshaw team, a dozen in all, began their careers as apprentices.” Apprenticeships are also a great way of teaching young people about the motor trade industry, finance regulations, motor trade insurance and more, which is why if you own a dealership it could be a good idea to consider starting your own!