Audatex is offering one apprentice a month a free spot on its AudaEnterpriseGold certification course.
The new initiative is being introduced with the support of the NBRA and automotive apprentice charity AutoRaise.
The two-day, £600 course provides apprentices with AEG certification in vehicle damage assessment and is being introduced to help tackle the crippling skills shortage in the sector. Recruitment was named as the number one challenge for 67% bodyshops in the UK, according to research conducted by the Institute of the Motor Industry, while 40% of workshops say they are too short-staffed to send apprentices on training courses.
Neil Garrett, UK Sales Director, Audatex, said, “We hope this offer of free training for selected apprentices will not only make the candidate better qualified but also help bodyshops send trainees on industry courses in the absence of funding. These apprentices will get an invaluable insight into a career in intelligent technologies as they return to their employers with valuable skills.”
Chris Weeks, NBRA Executive Director, said, “The next generation of automotive technicians has grown up in the age of smart technology. Audatex’s training will reveal the growing complexity and technology behind everyday vehicles we take for granted.”