A motor vehicle service and maintenance technician services and repairs light vehicles such as cars and vans and works either in dealerships which focus on a particular manufacturer or in an independent garage which deals with many different makes of vehicles.
The automotive retail Industry provides employment for over half a million employees who work for approximately 70,000 employers. It is a major contributor to the UK economy. In a large dealership the technician will typically report to the Workshop Controller, who in turn reports to the Aftersales Manager and liaises with the Service Reception. In smaller garages, the technician will report directly to the owner or garage manager.
Please note: You must have an employer partner to participate in the apprenticeship.
What you'll learn
In the early stages of an apprenticeship you will work alongside a qualified technician carrying out routine maintenance and basic repairs. As you progress you will develop the skills that will enable you to diagnose, report and fix more complex faults. You will attend college on day release and learn the technical knowledge needed to support you in the workplace.
A primary objective of the motor vehicle technician is to learn and understand how to carry out the basic functions in every section of the garage. This provides the opportunity to experience, consider and value each section with a view to your chosen profession. The learning journey of a technician will vary considerably from one individual to the next; however it is the range of experiences in the basics gained in this role which provide the opportunities to progress to any future senior technician role.
You will also complete the Level 2 Award in Safe Maintenance of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles. This award proves competence for individuals who work with electric vehicles and need to safely manage the power systems. It covers the knowledge and skills needed to: Isolate and re-energize an electric vehicle, follow safe working practices, and understand the hazards associated with electric vehicles.
How you'll learn and be assessed
Curriculum Delivery
An apprentice will attend college on a one-day-a-week delivery pattern, based on a 36-day delivery during an academic year. Each session will be 7 hours of instruction/practice and cover the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours as required by the apprenticeship standard. Additional sessions may be held during college closure periods to ensure the apprentice is meeting course requirements and progressing as expected. At least every two months, the apprentice will meet with their Activate Apprenticeships on-programme assessor to review and record their progress against the apprenticeship standard. At these reviews, evidence will be discussed and recorded by the apprentice.
It is essential that employers also ensure that apprentices are being mentored in these practices whilst in the workplace to ensure a satisfactory level of competence and knowledge is achieved prior to End-point Assessment (EPA).
The EPA can only be taken after the conditions of the Assessment Gateway have been successfully achieved.
To achieve this apprenticeship standard, the employer, training provider and apprentice will agree when the apprentice has developed all the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours defined in the apprenticeship standard and clearly evidenced by the on-programme progression review meetings and records.
The independent end assessment ensures that all apprentices consistently achieve the industry-set professional standard and it can commence at any point once the apprentice is competent after the twelve-month minimum period of learning and development. Prior to independent end assessment, the Functional Skills English and Maths components of the apprenticeship must be successfully completed.
Duration
Start Dates
Location
Entry requirements
You will require appropriate PPE.
To start on one of our apprenticeships, you will need to be over 16 years old and employed in a relevant role. Every employer is different and therefore entry requirements can vary.
We are committed to supporting you in developing your skills either prior or during your apprenticeship journey. Minimum requirements prior to starting for 16-18 year olds: Grade 4 GCSE in either maths and English or Functional Skills Level 2 in either / equivalent. 19+: If evidence of achieving a Grade 4 or above in maths or English is not available, the employer will decide if Functional Skills will be a requirement at interview stage.
Functional Skills
To complete the apprenticeship, the employee must pass Level 2 English and maths (or have the appropriate exemption certificate) or work towards Level 2 before undertaking their end-point assessment.
Additional information
Progression from this apprenticeship is expected to be into a Qualified Vehicle Technician, Service Advisor, MOT Tester, garage owner and various other roles within the automotive industry.
