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.

The technician must be able to work independently but also operate as an effective team member and have good customer handling skills. They will understand how their workshop and the dealership/garage functions from a commercial perspective and identify ways in which they can work more efficiently. Technicians working in large dealerships work with other departments, for example carrying out work for the Sales Department and ordering parts from the Parts Department, whereas apprentices in smaller independent garages may be called upon to carry out some of the function of the other departments themselves, for example managing their own delivery of parts.

The technician will work on all the systems found within the vehicle. The day-to-day work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment. The tasks faced are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques.

The growing complexity of today’s vehicles, and the pressure to deliver a high-quality customer experience, requires the retail automotive sector to attract and train high calibre individuals and this is reflected in the elements of the Standard.

Our Motor Vehicle Service & Maintenance Technician apprenticeship follows the level 3 Apprenticeship Standard; Motor Vehicle Service & Maintenance Technician Light Vehicle (ST0033)

The program duration is approximately 36 to 42 months and includes 24 weeks of block release training spread over 3 years.  This is conducted at the purpose-built Toyota Training Academy at Burnaston, Derbyshire.  In your first year, you will complete a 2-week induction block followed by a further 2, 1-week training blocks and 1, 2-week training block spread throughout the year.  In your second year, you will have a further 3, 2-week training blocks and 2, 1-week training blocks spread throughout the year with a further 4, 2-week training blocks and 2, 1-week training blocks in the third year.

English & Maths will be embedded into the training blocks or delivered during additional blocks if required (dependant on prior achievement & initial assessment results). Apprentices are required to have achieved English & Maths at GCSE A-C or 4 & above, or Functional Skills Level 2 prior to being put forward for EPA.

At the end of your training period, your employer will decide if you are ready for EPA. This is done using the evidence collected throughout your apprenticeship and discussions with the training provider. The EPA itself will consist of online tests, practical observations, and professional discussions.

Upon successful completion of the qualification, you will also achieve the;

Toyota TEAM21* – Technician Licence (technical education for automotive mastery in the twenty first century)

To find out more about this Apprenticeship Standard Click here