Porsche Centre Teesside offers apprentice the opportunity of a lifetime.
Working under the bonnet of high performance cars has got to be the ultimate ambition for many a young motor technician (as well as those with a few more miles on the clock!).
But for one budding motor mechanic it is a dream come true, working as an apprentice at Porsche Centre Teesside.
Honing his skills working on some of the flashiest cars in the business, 21-year-old James loves every minute.
While Porsche Teesside Aftersales Manager, Tim Copeland, gets to reap the benefits of shaping the firm’s future talent.
“It’s a hell of a place to start your career,” said James, who has had a passion for cars all of his life.
“A lot of my family work in the motor trade,” he explained, so it made sense when he chose to follow suit.
Keen to impress, James had previously volunteered his time to carry out a work placement with the branch. It clearly worked, for when an apprenticeship opportunity came up they snapped him up.
Today James is one of two current Stockton Riverside College motor vehicle technician apprentices working in the Porsche workshop, learning from experts in the brand.
Starting his career as an apprentice himself, Tim said: “I believe in growing our own people. For us, that means finding people with the right attitude, who are willing to apply themselves, and we can teach them the technical skills.
“It is day in day out hands on experience and you can’t teach that any other way. I was 16 when I started my apprenticeship, I learnt the skills of my trade in exactly the same way.”
Going on to work at multiple leading motor brands, Tim now loves heading up the aftersales team at Porsche Centre Teesside and, for someone who loves cars, what better way to spend your days than surrounded by the latest pristine motors?
Stockton Riverside College’s Motor Vehicle Course Leader, David Hobson, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for our apprentices – who wouldn’t want to work with cars like these? And it just goes to show what can be achieved through work experience, which is a key part of all our full-time courses.
“Experiencing working life with Porsche will teach them the culture of a leading brand and the high standards that go with that. It is fantastic that a company such as Porsche Teesside is keen to grow their own talent and invest in apprenticeships.”
Want to drive your own skills forward? Stockton Riverside College offers qualifications in Motor Vehicle Studies at Level 1, 2 and 3, as well as apprenticeship opportunities. To find out more visit www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/motor-vehicle/ or call 01642 865566.
Stockton Riverside College is opening its doors to all those considering their next steps after leaving school and those considering a return to their studies or an apprenticeship with a dedicated open evening on Tuesday February 4, from 5.30pm-7.30pm. Discover your route to success.
