Part of the Etc.
A young dad with ambitions to work in the motor trade got more than he bargained for when he signed up to a Prince’s Trust course with Stockton Riverside College.
A work placement at Teesside’s Porsche Centre put Dean Richards in the driving seat when it comes to discovering some of the amazing opportunities the industry has to offer.
“When I signed up to the course I knew that I would get the chance to take part in a work placement but I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” said the 18-year-old from Richmond.
“If I was lucky I thought that I might get the chance to do my work experience in a small garage, but this has delivered so much more.”
Taking his place back stage in the JCT600 workshop in Stockton, Dean got the chance to learn from some of the best, working alongside one of Porsche’s Classic-trained technicians.
He even got the chance to go out in some of the top class cars as a passenger on a test drive.
Service Manager Tim Copeland said: “JCT600 are patrons of The Prince’s Trust and as such we have a philosophy around offering young people opportunities and at the same time hopefully helping to grow the future of the trade.”
By spending two weeks at the Stockton-based showroom and workshop, Tim said: “Dean has experienced what the culture of a business is like. He has experienced the repair process, how we go about fixing cars and he has even seen some Classic Porsche.”
For a young person with ambitions to work in the industry, Tim said this really is an amazing way to get your first insight into the trade.
Starting his own career as an apprentice, he said: “As a young lad interested in cars these are the type of cars that you would have had posters on the wall.”
For Dean the experience has certainly been an inspirational one. After a year out of work helping to care for his baby daughter he is now considering a return to college or an apprenticeship to study motor vehicle studies.
Signing up to The Prince’s Trust Richmond Team, he said he wanted to develop his skills with a view to getting back to work.
“The course has really built my confidence more than anything. And now this experience has been great, it has been hands-on and I already feel that I have learnt a lot.”
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a free personal development course open to unemployed young people aged from 16 to 25. By taking part in a series of challenges and tasks, including a two-week work placement, it aims to help build essential skills with a view to returning to education, training or employment.
The Team programme is delivered by Stockton Riverside College at locations in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Billingham, Redcar, Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Richmond.
On average 80% of young people taking part in Prince’s Trust programmes progress on to employment or further education. For details visit: www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/princes-trust/
A work placement at Teesside’s Porsche Centre put Dean Richards in the driving seat when it comes to discovering some of the amazing opportunities the industry has to offer.“When I signed up to the course I knew that I would get the chance to take part in a work placement but I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” said the 18-year-old from Richmond.
“If I was lucky I thought that I might get the chance to do my work experience in a small garage, but this has delivered so much more.”
Taking his place back stage in the JCT600 workshop in Stockton, Dean got the chance to learn from some of the best, working alongside one of Porsche’s Classic-trained technicians.He even got the chance to go out in some of the top class cars as a passenger on a test drive.
Service Manager Tim Copeland said: “JCT600 are patrons of The Prince’s Trust and as such we have a philosophy around offering young people opportunities and at the same time hopefully helping to grow the future of the trade.”
By spending two weeks at the Stockton-based showroom and workshop, Tim said: “Dean has experienced what the culture of a business is like. He has experienced the repair process, how we go about fixing cars and he has even seen some Classic Porsche.”
For a young person with ambitions to work in the industry, Tim said this really is an amazing way to get your first insight into the trade.
Starting his own career as an apprentice, he said: “As a young lad interested in cars these are the type of cars that you would have had posters on the wall.”
For Dean the experience has certainly been an inspirational one. After a year out of work helping to care for his baby daughter he is now considering a return to college or an apprenticeship to study motor vehicle studies.
Signing up to The Prince’s Trust Richmond Team, he said he wanted to develop his skills with a view to getting back to work.
“The course has really built my confidence more than anything. And now this experience has been great, it has been hands-on and I already feel that I have learnt a lot.”
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a free personal development course open to unemployed young people aged from 16 to 25. By taking part in a series of challenges and tasks, including a two-week work placement, it aims to help build essential skills with a view to returning to education, training or employment.
The Team programme is delivered by Stockton Riverside College at locations in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Billingham, Redcar, Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Richmond.
On average 80% of young people taking part in Prince’s Trust programmes progress on to employment or further education. For details visit: www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/princes-trust/
