Rathbone offers Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships in retail motor industry.

There are over 32 million cars on the UK road network today. Every one was sold by a dealer, and needs tyres, repairs and servicing. Drivers have to buy spare parts or they might buy extras to customise their cars.

This is the starting point for anyone who wants to work in this exciting industry. You could work in a wide range of businesses from small independent garages to large manufacturer dealerships like our training partner, Jaguar Land Rover. The demand for high quality vehicle technicians is high.

We’ll provide an employer or placement, all the training, advice, support and guidance you need. The rest is down to you!

What’s in the Apprenticeship?

Most of your learning happens on the job, learning from experienced work colleagues. You’ll use learning materials developed by our training partners, Jaguar Land Rover.

There’s some time away in the classroom; modern motor vehicles feature the very latest technology and you’ll need to know about it.

You’ll learn how a vehicle works, how it’s repaired and serviced.

You’ll learn how the industry works.

What you need to do:

You’ll need to be smart and well presented

You need to be on time and to behave in a professional way to make a good impression.

How long does an Apprenticeship last?

It’s about showing that you can do the job to national standards so it depends on how fast you learn.

If you left school with no other experience in motor vehicles, you could achieve your Apprenticeship in around 24 months or an Advanced Apprenticeship in a further 24 months.

What qualifications can I get?

You can achieve:

• A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in repair and servicing of road vehicles proving you’re skilled.
• A Technical Certificate that shows you have the knowledge you need.
• Practical work skills in communications, using numbers and ICT.

Which job roles can this Apprenticeship lead to?

This apprenticeship gets you started and can lead to jobs like:

• Fast Fit Technician
• Light and Heavy Vehicle Technicians
• Vehicle Parts and Distribution Services
• Vehicle Valeting
• Vehicle Sales

How much can I earn when I’m trained?

This depends on where you live and your exact job role. Starting salaries for jobs are about £18,000 a year when you start in an independent garage. In franchised dealers, where a garage is branded by a manufacturer, you could earn about £23,000 a year. To get a better idea, look at vacancies for these kinds of jobs in your local paper.