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Stoneacre Motor Group is leading the way in nurturing young talent and meeting the evolving needs of the automotive industry by embracing the groundbreaking internship initiative, Toyota Talent Powered by Autotech Academy, in a bid to grow its own talent pool and secure the future of its workforce.
Last year, The Toyota GB Plc joined forces with Autotech Group’s Academy brand to launch the initiative which would address the shortage of skilled vehicle technicians and support the recruitment strategy across Toyota’s UK retail network.
Built upon Autotech Academy’s proven internship concept, the programme bridges the gap between newly qualified Level 3 automotive students and motor industry employers, equipping interns with a toolbox, uniform, and 6-12 month paid internships that leads to full-time employment in over 95% of cases. Additionally, Toyota provide value-add training and support via their world-class Academy through a fit for work assessment and report, and regular webinars to engage with the interns.
Stoneacre, an established Toyota representative with over 60 dealership sites across the UK, and a strong presence in the North East, has fully embraced this initiative. To date, ten Autotech Academy interns have been placed at Stoneacre sites, with two standout success stories from the motor company’s Newcastle site.
Cameron Bell, the site’s first intern, completed his seven-month internship and is now employed as a technician at Stoneacre Newcastle. Reflecting on his internship, Cameron shared: “The support behind the internship really stood out to me. From the tools and uniform provided to the strong network that guided me through my first months, these are facets we wouldn’t have had without this programme.”
Cameron has now taken on a mentoring role for Szymon Brychcy, who joined the Newcastle site as an intern in July. Together, the two work in tandem to deliver Toyota Express Maintenance (TXM) splitting tasks to maximise efficiency.
Both Cameron and Szymon earned their Level 3 qualifications in Light Vehicle Repair and Maintenance before joining the program.
“Cameron and Szymon work in tandem to split tasks,” comments David Wilkinson, In-House Toyota Express Maintenance (TXM) Trainer. “While I join the interns on site for the first four weeks to show them the process, this buddy system is both efficient and an incredible learning mechanism. It’s a very slick process and one which can be rolled out across the network.”
For Stoneacre, these internships are about more than plugging operational gaps—they’re an investment in the future. Dean Upton, Aftersales Manager at Stoneacre Newcastle, highlighted the programme's unique benefits, stating: “The interns arrive with skills but no preconceived industry experience, making them ideal candidates. We’re able to mould them into specific roles tailored to our workshop goals with a clear focus and structured training."
Jim Kay, Regional Aftersales Performance Manager Toyota Stoneacre emphasised the importance of the buy-in from within the Stoneacre network: “It’s crucial that everyone across the business has an open mind to adopting new recruitment strategies. By mentoring young talent, bringing in expert
trainers to support development, and creating opportunities to grow, we’ve built a successful foundation that works. We can now say we're truly growing our talent in-house.”
This innovative approach has already produced measurable outcomes. By embedding two Autotech Academy interns into TXM services, Stoneacre has reduced the time required for routine maintenance tasks. “Service times have been cut down to just 45 minutes, and not only are we meeting customer expectations for faster turnarounds, but we’re also able to open our workshop diaries to accommodate more appointments. It’s a win-win for us and our customers,” explained Steve Wood, Regional Aftersales Manager for Stoneacre.
Crucially, Stoneacre sees this initiative as a solution to a nationwide challenge—the recruitment of skilled vehicle technicians. “It’s no secret that finding qualified technicians is tough, but through the internship programme, we’re addressing that by growing our own,” Steve concludes. “We’re preparing the next generation to transition seamlessly into roles, keeping our business agile as our experienced workforce begins to retire. It’s a constant cycle of development.”
With the success of this partnership, Stoneacre is proving that equipping young talent with opportunity, mentorship, and hands-on experience is the key to sustaining growth, meeting operational challenges, and ensuring customer satisfaction. It also demonstrates the strength of Autotech Academy’s internship initiative which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of motor industry employers.
For more information visit www.autotechacademy.co.uk