October 2019

62 AFTERMARKET OCTOBER 2019 TRAINING www.aftermarketonline.net Apprentices would stay if offered job says survey Taking on apprentices is still a great way for a garage business to source long-term staff according to Drive My Career, which has found that 95% of young people said they would stay with a company if they received a job offer after completing an apprenticeship. When asked whether they preferred to go to university or start an apprenticeship, 47% opted for an apprenticeship. Almost 40% of respondents said the ‘earn while you learn’ element is the most important part of an apprenticeship. This was closely followed by ‘understanding the work environment’ (27%) and ‘gaining early work experience’ (26%). Drive My Career is an employment initiative, run by the NFDA to improve the perception of the automotive industry among 16-24 year olds, as well as highlight career opportunities. To find out more about the initiative, please visit www.drivemycareer.co.uk . In‘n’Out partners with Autotech on training In‘n’Out Autocentres has appointed Autotech Recruit to deal with all of its training and recruitment needs across its 26 sites. Following 25% growth in just 12 months, In‘n’Out are looking to have 50 sites by 2020. As part of its partnership with Autotech Recruit, In‘n’Out intends to use the company’s links with providers such as ZF Aftermarket Technical Training and GTG Training. Autotech will also be taking on the company’s DVSA site auditing and training to support In‘n’Out’s growing base of MOT Testers. Gavin White, Managing Director of Autotech Recruit commented: “Our team are proficient in vetting and supplying skilled candidates, while our training division can tap into a myriad of courses to ensure In‘n’Out vehicle technicians have the knowledge to service a range of vehicles.” Training focus: Snap-on Klarius and PM Training encourage future engineers Klarius Products recently introduced a group of local young people to the world of work with a full factory tour of its Staffordshire- based exhaust manufacturing centre. The company offered the 14-to-18-year olds an insight into its operations, as part of ongoing work to provide apprenticeship opportunities for aspiring engineers in the area. The visitors were guided around the Klarius facility to meet employees, see manufacturing techniques and to get to grips with the 10,000+ product range of exhausts, CATs, diesel DPFs and accessories produced at the site. Klarius Products currently employs three apprentices at its Staffordshire facility, all of which have been sourced from local training provider PM Training. Klarius also partners with the IMI to deliver approved training to enhance the emission control skills of garage technicians. Doug Bentley, Head of R&D at Klarius and tour guide for the day commented: "There is a real passion for all things automotive in young people, so it's exciting to give teenagers the chance to see what it is really like working in the industry. The group also manufactures large jigs and specialist machine tools as well as aerosols, so we can offer young people a real insight into engineering. Involving young people is one of the drivers that helps our business keep pace in a highly changeable industry. It's very important to pass accumulated knowledge on to the next generation, as well as offering them a chance to excel." Dan Canavan, Director of Training Operations at PM Training added: "We really value the partnership we have with Klarius. The opportunity for our learners to see a working factory floor and understand more about a leading local business is great experience. It means they can use what they learn in their training each day as they work towards an apprenticeship." Snap-on provides a range of training, including daytime courses and evening seminars that are accredited by the IMI Snap-on’s full-day courses offer in-depth information about how to use and get the most from diagnostic equipment. They are presented in a classroom environment and use real-world examples to help demonstrate the diagnostic steps required to reach fixes. Courses are targeted towards Snap-on platform users and are currently covering the VERUS Edge, MODIS Edge and Intelligent Diagnostics live on ZEUS systems. Daytime courses conclude with a test which, if passed, earns the technician IMI certification on the course’s subject. The evening seminars are designed to keep visitors up to date with the latest developments in vehicle technology, and cover a range of subjects that will help all levels of technician to understand and make money from diagnostics. They are arranged so that attendees don’t have to take time out of the workshop and are presented by an experienced professional with specific topics and case studies used. Themes covered include Safety Systems, Component Testing and Complaint to Correction, and attendees can gain points towards their IMI Continuing Professional Development status. A spokesman for Snap-on said: “Snap-on trains thousands of people each year and firmly believes in the importance of helping technicians maximise their own potential and harnessing it with the potential of their equipment in order for them to be able to be the best they can be. Having the IMI Awards accreditation for the courses further reinforces Snap-on’s customer-centred commitment to providing the best quality information, training and skills to its customers and distributors. Snap-on works alongside the IMI to improve public confidence in garages and workshops via the nationally-recognised accreditation scheme.” Visit www.snapontraining.co.uk for the full calendar of courses and seminars.