Vehicle technician apprenticeships and my son
Discussion
My son, although far from stupid is simply not academic in the "sit at a desk and listen" way that schools still teach and was struggling to know what to do after his final year at school.
He has always been very hands on and out of the blue he announced about six months ago he wanted to go to college and do vehicle maintenance with the aim of eventually getting a full blown apprenticeship.
Forms filled out, assessment / interview session at college and was immediately offered a place on a 1 year L1 Vehicle Maintenance course, only person to turn up in trousers and shirt rather than hoodie and track pants.
His target was always an apprenticeship so with the L1 course in the bag as a banker he started door knocking dealerships and garages to see if he could get some work experience and or the chance to apply for an apprenticeship.
About a month ago he knocked on the door of a local Ferrari / Lamborghini / Maserati specialist - small but busy father and son team, with a workshop that is like stepping back in time and absolutely fantastic, yes lots of diagnostic stuff but also clearly a lot of traditional take out, strip down, diagnose and repair stuff - absolutely my sons dream, he does not want to work in a main dealer diagnose and replace environment.
He really impressed the owner and he has been going in on Saturdays to observe and help out. This week it has moved to a full day today and a full day tomorrow and at lunchtime today he was told that they are talking to the college to see how they can take him on as their first ever apprentice.
Already being exposed to some great stuff - today he is observing and helping in the stripdown of a 328 engine in preparation for a rebuild - obviously not doing anything other than the basic stuff and fully supervised but he is in absolute heaven
So proud of him for putting in the effort of going door knocking and asking for a chance - fingers crossed that in September he will be starting an apprenticeship rather than his L1 Vehicle Maintenance
He has always been very hands on and out of the blue he announced about six months ago he wanted to go to college and do vehicle maintenance with the aim of eventually getting a full blown apprenticeship.
Forms filled out, assessment / interview session at college and was immediately offered a place on a 1 year L1 Vehicle Maintenance course, only person to turn up in trousers and shirt rather than hoodie and track pants.
His target was always an apprenticeship so with the L1 course in the bag as a banker he started door knocking dealerships and garages to see if he could get some work experience and or the chance to apply for an apprenticeship.
About a month ago he knocked on the door of a local Ferrari / Lamborghini / Maserati specialist - small but busy father and son team, with a workshop that is like stepping back in time and absolutely fantastic, yes lots of diagnostic stuff but also clearly a lot of traditional take out, strip down, diagnose and repair stuff - absolutely my sons dream, he does not want to work in a main dealer diagnose and replace environment.
He really impressed the owner and he has been going in on Saturdays to observe and help out. This week it has moved to a full day today and a full day tomorrow and at lunchtime today he was told that they are talking to the college to see how they can take him on as their first ever apprentice.
Already being exposed to some great stuff - today he is observing and helping in the stripdown of a 328 engine in preparation for a rebuild - obviously not doing anything other than the basic stuff and fully supervised but he is in absolute heaven
So proud of him for putting in the effort of going door knocking and asking for a chance - fingers crossed that in September he will be starting an apprenticeship rather than his L1 Vehicle Maintenance
Had a long chat with my son last night, trying to understand how the day went.
The business is basically owner, his son and one other. Yesterday and today are part of a plan to get him up and running and used to the work environment whilst things are being sorted out with the college who will be managing the apprenticeship.
The owner is a genuinely lovely bloke who has really taken Noah under his wing and clearly wants to do the right thing and is going to be training / supervising him himself.
Sons first experience of a sandwich van lunch yesterday which he loved, especially the fact that the other two mechanics introduced him to the sandwich lady as the "new apprentice".
Apparently he is going to be helping out on some work on a Mercedes 190SL today - don't think its sinking in with him yet how fortunate he is - this is stuff that most people won't get near in their entire career and he is getting involved right at the start of his
The business is basically owner, his son and one other. Yesterday and today are part of a plan to get him up and running and used to the work environment whilst things are being sorted out with the college who will be managing the apprenticeship.
The owner is a genuinely lovely bloke who has really taken Noah under his wing and clearly wants to do the right thing and is going to be training / supervising him himself.
Sons first experience of a sandwich van lunch yesterday which he loved, especially the fact that the other two mechanics introduced him to the sandwich lady as the "new apprentice".
Apparently he is going to be helping out on some work on a Mercedes 190SL today - don't think its sinking in with him yet how fortunate he is - this is stuff that most people won't get near in their entire career and he is getting involved right at the start of his
Bit of a curve ball apprenticeship route but what about agricultural mechanic ?
All the industry is struggling for engineers and the big manufacturers have there own apprenticeships.
John Deere definitely do and class do a 3 year apprenticeship which finishes with the option of doing a harvest season in Australia or New Zealand .
All the industry is struggling for engineers and the big manufacturers have there own apprenticeships.
John Deere definitely do and class do a 3 year apprenticeship which finishes with the option of doing a harvest season in Australia or New Zealand .
There is also a massive shortage of people in the automotive industry and thats where my sons passion is - he ideally wants to get his apprenticeship under his belt and either stay with the specialist who are looking to take him on or go full on in to the classic car side of things, possibly learning bodywork too
A young person with some get up and go. It's a miracle!
In the trade companies will react very well to approach this as often if they want an apprentice the college will supply them and sometimes the lads are only on the course so their mum can still get benefits or they don't really know what they want to do. A keen and engaged apprentice is a rare thing!
Good luck to him it's really great warming to read and good on the company for nurturing him.
In the trade companies will react very well to approach this as often if they want an apprentice the college will supply them and sometimes the lads are only on the course so their mum can still get benefits or they don't really know what they want to do. A keen and engaged apprentice is a rare thing!
Good luck to him it's really great warming to read and good on the company for nurturing him.
What an uplifting story, wonderful to hear.
Both my son's stopped school after GCSEs and have not lifted a finger since despite me pulling what's left of my hair out trying to get them work.
I work in telly and youngsters fight to get in and work bloody hard if they do. As I'm quite senior I have had many chances to get my boys in but they rather stay in bed.
Thanks for showing me the other side. All the best for your boy
Both my son's stopped school after GCSEs and have not lifted a finger since despite me pulling what's left of my hair out trying to get them work.
I work in telly and youngsters fight to get in and work bloody hard if they do. As I'm quite senior I have had many chances to get my boys in but they rather stay in bed.
Thanks for showing me the other side. All the best for your boy
Good luck to your son, great stuff.
My son, now 18, again a bright lad but just didn't enjoy school at the 5th year/higher level.
We were very fortunate to go in and speak to the careers advisor, and lucky with timing as Arnold Clark had just released their latest applications for apprentices. Like your son, I think he was the only one to dress smartly and got on really well at the interview.
He's now into his 2nd year, still enjoying it.
My son, now 18, again a bright lad but just didn't enjoy school at the 5th year/higher level.
We were very fortunate to go in and speak to the careers advisor, and lucky with timing as Arnold Clark had just released their latest applications for apprentices. Like your son, I think he was the only one to dress smartly and got on really well at the interview.
He's now into his 2nd year, still enjoying it.
fridaypassion said:
A young person with some get up and go. It's a miracle!
In the trade companies will react very well to approach this as often if they want an apprentice the college will supply them and sometimes the lads are only on the course so their mum can still get benefits or they don't really know what they want to do. A keen and engaged apprentice is a rare thing!
Good luck to him it's really great warming to read and good on the company for nurturing him.
Indeed.In the trade companies will react very well to approach this as often if they want an apprentice the college will supply them and sometimes the lads are only on the course so their mum can still get benefits or they don't really know what they want to do. A keen and engaged apprentice is a rare thing!
Good luck to him it's really great warming to read and good on the company for nurturing him.
We had a guy who was ok but to get on the class apprenticeship he needs a a-c gcse in English and Maths , our company offered to pay for a tutor to help him and he's just disappeared.
Meanwhile another guy has turned up , put himself back thru college to get his grades and technically a lot better , bubbling away in the background we had s work experience guy who pretty much runs the online side of his dads plant machinery company and is very comfortable mending plant machinery.
Impressive skills for a 14 year old ( may be 15)
Andy665 said:
don't think its sinking in with him yet how fortunate he is -
That goes both ways, if he is keen and reasonably switched on there’s plenty of workshops that would be glad to have him. Like Croyde points out, there’s plenty of kids that don’t have the motivation. It sounds like he has landed in the right kind of place to get a real grounding in the mechanical side but make sure (at some point) that he has at least a working knowledge of newer tech and systems as well - if he is looking at a career in the trade he will see a lot of changes and classic ICE rebuilds will become increasingly niche.
What a brilliant story. Your son has shown great initiative and has clearly found his element. And good on you for nurturing where you feel his skills clearly are, not everyone learns in the same way or needs to go down the uni route as some schools seem to push. Getting hands-on to learn skills, that’s definitely my preference.
And it sounds like he’s landed on his feet at the garage, fair play to the owner for giving him a chance, sounds like he’ll massively benefit too from having what sounds like a great apprentice.
Please keep this thread alive for the next few years, be great to hear how he gets on!
And it sounds like he’s landed on his feet at the garage, fair play to the owner for giving him a chance, sounds like he’ll massively benefit too from having what sounds like a great apprentice.
Please keep this thread alive for the next few years, be great to hear how he gets on!
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