Apprentice scheme launched by Good Garage Scheme
While Lord Sugar has made the headlines following his successful hiring of a new apprentice, the UK-wide Good Garage Scheme has launched its own search for apprentices to work with garages in the independent motor repairs industry.
The Good Garage Scheme www.goodgaragescheme.com, in conjunction with leading automotive apprentice and automotive customer services trainer Skillnet, has developed an initiative to find new apprentice technicians for its membership of independent garages and workshops.
Garages and workshops can register their interest with the Good Garage Scheme via its member benefits website www.ggsbenefits.co.uk which immediately puts them in contact with Skillnet to ensure apprentices are found as quickly as possible.
With fierce competition among 16-year-olds to gain an apprenticeship, garages are being urged to act quickly to recruit the best. Skillnet handles everything from recruitment to delivery of apprentices and all garages have to do is pay their wages as apprenticeships are fully funded by the government for 16 to 18-year-olds.
Garages can also benefit from significant returns on their investment with a recent report suggesting that on average apprentices can typically earn a business six times the amount invested in them. Skillnet has estimated that based on a total three-year investment of £21,000 the potential Return on Investment (ROI) for a garage could be a £81,900 profit.
David Moran, Business Development Director of Skillnet Limited said: “We are delighted to be working with the Good Garage Scheme in developing the talented technicians of the future and urge employers to give young people the same opportunity they had when they first entered the industry.”
Anndi Sheppard, marketing manager at the Good Garage Scheme, said: “We’ve seen evidence that an increasing number of our member garages and workshops are looking to take on apprentices. With young people getting ready to leave school in July, our aim is to help ensure apprentices are placed with Good Garage Scheme members as quickly as possible this year. It is mutually beneficial for the youngsters who receive quality training and garages in terms of significant potential return on investment.
“One of the key aims of the Good Garage Scheme is to make sure our members are well trained and we want to encourage them to gain Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA). There’s currently no legal requirement for someone to work on your car but we believe it’s important for people working on cars to be as qualified as possible.”
Launched by Forté four years ago, the Good Garage Scheme’s membership comprises of independent garages and workshops where customers are assured of service excellence.
Now widely accepted as a mark of quality for independent garages across the UK, Good Garage Scheme garages are recognised as providing exceptional service to their customers based on a rigorously monitored mandatory code of practice. Customers looking for their nearest Good Garage can quickly locate one using the easy-to-use search facility on the Good Garage Scheme website www.goodgaragescheme.com.
Gary Lillistone, Bridge PR on tel: 024 76 520025, email:garyl@bridgepr.co.uk
Anndi Sheppard, Forte Lubricants a division of ITW Ltd, on tel: 024 76 472649
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