Motor Vehicle apprentice

Summary

An apprentice in one of the 600+ Halfords Autocentres is unlike anything you will find in a traditional service business. Within our Autocentres no two days are the same. You will work on servicing, inspections to the more complex repair work, engine rebuilds and diagnostics work. Looking for an apprentice to join our Brighton team.

Wage

£16,640 a year

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The pay for a Level 2 apprentice is £8 per hour and for a Level 3 apprentice £9 per hour.

Training course

Motor vehicle service and maintenance technician - light vehicle (level 3)

Hours

Autocentre Opening Hours - 0800 -1800 (6/7 days per week). 5 day working week including 1 day at college day release, shifts TBC. Total hours per week: 40.00 for up to 18 and 44 hrs for over 18 years.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 July 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

You will be customer-focused with sharp attention to detail as well as the ability to listen to and learn from your college lecturers, colleagues and mentors to gain the skills to diagnose and repair vehicles to the highest standard.

The nature of the work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment.

The day-to-day tasks faced by a vehicle technician are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques.

Today’s apprentice has to demonstrate expertise in the technical and diagnostic side of their role.

You must have strong problem-solving skills and a good grasp of the theoretical and practical aspects of a vehicle’s systems.

You must be able to work independently but also operate as an effective team member, and understand how their workshop and the Autocentre function from a commercial perspective.

Where you’ll work

Unit 1-4
Cheapside
Brighton
BN1 4GD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP

Your training course

Motor vehicle service and maintenance technician - light vehicle (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop. Segregate waste for disposal or recycling. Comply with industry environmental legislation.
Demonstrate due regard for own safety and that of others in the workshop and minimise risk of injury and vehicle damage.
Carry out fundamental tasks associated with removal and replacement procedures on a vehicle.
Obtain diagnostic and repair information.
Interpret diagnostic information and use electrical wiring diagrams to determine system serviceability.
Use a range of diagnostic equipment.
Follow recognised diagnostic procedures, logical diagnostic sequence and apply advanced diagnostic principles and problem-solving techniques to establish faults.
Report faults using company procedures and recommend suitable further actions.
Follow recognised repair procedures to complete a wide range of repairs including those which involve complex procedures, or in depth knowledge.
Test the function of repaired and fitted components.
Adhere to business processes and complete documentation following workplace procedures.
Use ICT to create emails, word-process documents and carry out web based searches.
Complete a range of services and inspect and prepare a vehicle to the required quality standard for handover to the customer.
Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop. Segregate waste for disposal or recycling. Comply with industry environmental legislation.
Demonstrate due regard for own safety and that of others in the workshop and minimise risk of injury and vehicle damage.
Carry out fundamental tasks associated with removal and replacement procedures on a vehicle.
Obtain diagnostic and repair information.
Interpret diagnostic information and use electrical wiring diagrams to determine system serviceability.
Use a range of diagnostic equipment.
Follow recognised diagnostic procedures, logical diagnostic sequence and apply advanced diagnostic principles and problem-solving techniques to establish faults.
Report faults using company procedures and recommend suitable further actions.
Follow recognised repair procedures to complete a wide range of repairs including those which involve complex procedures, or in depth knowledge.
Test the function of repaired and fitted components.
Adhere to business processes and complete documentation following workplace procedures.
Use ICT to create emails, word-process documents and carry out web based searches.
Complete a range of services and inspect and prepare a vehicle to the required quality standard for handover to the customer.

Your training plan

You will be completing the Level 3 Motor Vehicle Service & Maintenance Technician apprenticeship or the Level 2 Autocare Technician apprenticeship. To start on Level 3, you must have completed a Level 2 Motor Vehicle qualification. At the end of the apprenticeship, you will gain a grade Pass or Distinction.

If you are 16-18 and don’t have GCSEs grade 4 or above (or equivalents), then you will be required to undertake Level 2 Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship. If you are 19+ and don’t hold maths and English qualifications, then they are optional alongside the apprenticeship. This will be discussed alongside the Branch Manager to decide whether the maths and English qualifications are included alongside the apprenticeship.

Day-release will be at the Eastbourne campus, once a week, term time only. An assessor will visit you every 10-12 weeks onsite. Please ensure you can travel to this location in East Sussex before applying. Hampden Park Train Station is a 15-minute walk from the station.

Requirements

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Friendly
Helpful
Knowledge of Microsoft
Interest in cars
Flexibility
Willing to learn
Customer focussed
Sharp attention to detail
Ability to learn and listen
Adaptable
Methodical
Some motor vehicle knowledge
Enjoys fixing cars
Analytical and mechanical

Other requirements

- Day-release will be from East Sussex College’s Eastbourne campus. Please ensure you can travel here before applying. - Applications will be considered for Level 2 and Level 3 applicants. - Once you have applied, your application will be passed to the Branch Manager. You will then be invited to attend an assessment day before being offered an apprenticeship. - Very key to this role is a friendly, helpful, team-orientated person with a strong desire to build a career as an Auto Vehicle Technician. You should also be able to use hands and have a strong and fit attitude to work due to the manual work involved. A successful Halfords Autocentre Apprentice is adaptable, flexible and enjoys the challenge of resolving new problems every day. You will be customer focused with sharp attention to detail as well as the ability to listen to and learn.

About this company

A fantastic opportunity to join Halfords Group PLC within one of the 300+ Halfords Autocentres in the UK. Join an energetic skilled workforce of Vehicle Technicians. You will learn from the best and hopefully shine to be the future employees of Halfords Vehicle Technicians. You will receive great training, great support and also a great salary.

https://www.halfordscareers.com/autocentres (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• 30 days holiday rising to 33 days • Variety of career development options • Life assurance • Great benefits including a generous colleague discount scheme, discounted high street shopping and pension

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Potential permanent full-time employment on successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP

Katie Parris

katie.parris@escg.ac.uk

03030039871

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000312949.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 11:59pm)

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