Passion for pit stops gave Leah the edge
TheY say races are won in the pits, and a visit to one put Leah Catton on the track to an apprenticeship.
the 19-year-old, who last year started her Level two Franchised Ford Dealer apprenticeship at the henry Ford academy, Daventry, now works at the Sandicliffe Ford dealer in Nottingham.
Leah says: ‘My interest in engineering began on trips to the British touring Car Championships ( BtCC) when I was younger. Visiting the pits and talking with engineers there really sparked my passion.
‘Meanwhile, I’m continuing my formal instruction at the henry Ford academy in Daventry, where, in small class groups, we get comprehensive hands- on training. My academy assessor visits me at work, too, so the whole training is linked together.
My skills base is growing every day.
‘In the long term, I want to make the most of my training and work in the racing scene, preferably in BtCC where it all started for me.’
adekunle Omisakin, an engineering higher apprentice with Ford, says: ‘I decided to go down the apprenticeship route as it will give me a head start on the career ladder in comparison to someone who went to university. I will also not be in debt, but am being paid, so choosing a Ford apprenticeship that was going to sponsor my degree was a no-brainer.’
Colleague Charlotte Matthews, who is also an engineering higher apprentice, adds: ‘With a BteC level three and an NVQ level three, both in engineering, the opportunity offered by the Ford apprentice scheme seemed like the very best way to progress.
‘What I particularly like are the colleagues I work with now, who all started their career through the apprenticeship route, so they are very supportive.
‘In the end I get to earn a degree while I am earning a competitive salary.’ Ford offers franchised Ford dealer, business higher and engineering apprenticeships. It has 155 apprentices across the three programmes.
andy Barratt, chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, says: ‘I started my apprenticeship at Dagenham as a then business technician and never looked back.
‘today, apprenticeships are central to skills development at Ford and are an invaluable element of our business.
‘I am passionate about the Ford products we build and sell, and equally passionate about the value of our apprenticeships scheme.’