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The first intern to ‘graduate’ through Autotech Academy has secured a permanent position with Marshall Peugeot Peterborough.
Keen to secure a role within the automotive industry, Daniel Limach, 21, joined Autotech Academy’s internship programme in late June after qualifying with a Level 3 in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair at New College Stamford.
Enabling Daniel to put the theory he had learned at college into practice, Daniel has gained a wealth of valuable hands-on experience through the internship, and he is delighted to now accept a permanent position as a mechanic.
Created to help thousands of students get a foothold on the automotive career ladder, and support employers when recruiting new talent, Autotech Academy provides qualified college leavers with a gateway into the industry through a paid internship.
A reported 10,000 Level 1 to 3 automotive students are being lost to the automotive industry each year after qualifying because they struggle to secure a role. Yet with automotive businesses increasingly appealing for skilled technicians, Autotech Academy works as a conduit between colleges and employers, managing the administration and interview process, saving employers significant time.
Each intern is vetted and interviewed before being placed within a garage or dealership by Autotech Academy, who also equip them with a Teng Tools tool kit and a uniform. Significantly, once the intern makes the transition to permanent employment the tool kit, worth around £1,000, is theirs to keep.
Ali Hayden, Service Manager, Marshall Peugeot Peterborough, comments: “As with all automotive employers, we were facing challenges recruiting skilled vehicle technicians. The majority of our technicians have been with us for their entire careers so with inevitable retirements, and the fallout from Brexit, Marshall’s knew that a solution was needed to guarantee a steady stream of talent coming into the business.
"Hearing about Autotech Academy I knew that it was an avenue I wanted to explore. Marshall’s have a good apprentice route, but the training process can take up to three years for school leavers. While dubious of the intern route to begin with, as we were unsure of the level of knowledge Daniel would hold, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. He has the ability to think on his feet and has a level of maturity and common sense to question and ensure that he is carrying work out correctly.
"One of the major challenges facing all automotive employers is time. Time to recruit, time to train, but Autotech Academy took this away from us, undertaking the interview process and vetting Daniel so that when I met him, he was fully prepared and demonstrated an eagerness to work. The fact that he came with a toolbox was a definite added bonus too.”
During Daniel’s first month, two Master Technicians worked with him, providing him with a good grounding in the workshop. While showing him how they worked, Daniel was also encouraged to think on his feet, ask when he needed clarification and encouraged to create his own way of working.
"The Autotech Academy internship provided me with the opportunity to get hands-on experience and put my college taught knowledge into practice. Without this opportunity, I think it may have been challenging to secure a role within the automotive industry,” comments Daniel.
“The Academy team has instilled confidence within me, and the toolbox has been a definite benefit - I felt ready and equipped to start my working life! The technicians here at Marshalls have been fantastic and extremely welcoming, and I am delighted to now be a permanent member of the team."
“We are delighted that Daniel is now a fully fledged member of the Marshall team,” Ali concludes. “On his first day as a permanent employee we presented him with new workwear and his own ramp, and he has now enrolled on the Peugeot training scheme. We have a structured plan in place for him as he has aspirations of becoming a Master Technician. Daniel has integrated himself well into the team, and I believe he will have a long career with the Marshall Group. As for Autotech Academy’s internship programme – I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”
To mark the graduation of the first intern, Autotech Academy director, James Mackay, officially handed over the tool kit to Daniel this week.
“We are delighted to have our first graduating intern,” comments James. “The Autotech Academy internship model is effectively a ‘grow your own concept’ and Daniel is testament to this. When he joined Marshalls, he held the theoretical knowledge but lacked the experience. However, within weeks he was working independently and was immersed within the business. We now look forward to seeing many more of our interns graduate.”
At the end of Autotech Academy’s internship period, which is customised to suit the employer’s needs, they can either decide to employ the intern free of charge on a full-time basis, or not - effectively a ‘try before you buy’ solution.
For more information about Autotech Academy, click here.