Wanted! 1000 Apprentices For The Classic Car Industry
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs
has outlined its aim to create the only Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL) accredited modern apprenticeship course for vehicle restoration in England. The full-time course is to be made available to 16-19 year olds, and focus on key skills essential for a career in the classic car industry. A specially commissioned survey by the FBHVC of 104 businesses in the sector identified the need for at least 1000 apprentices. The in-depth responses from a fraction of the businesses they intended to survey demonstrated a resounding desire to invest in essential employees. One key element of the vehicle restoration course will be its ability to act as a filter for industry. Put simply, students enrolled on the course must complete the first year before they are offered employment as part of their apprenticeship from year two. By identifying apprentices with the determination and attitude to forge a career within the industry, companies wishing to support them can reciprocate with their time and resources. Previous courses run at City and Guilds and NVQ level came under pressure to accept students with little or no interest in vehicle restoration, who were forced to attend a course to continue receiving benefits. This proved to be to the detriment of all concerned. The new OFQUAL accredited course framework is being developed by the Institute of the Motor Industry with steering group input and guidance from a number of industry experts including CM editor, Gary Stretton. Following a recent steering group meeting, Stretton explained his involvement and why the course is so vital to young enthusiasts keen to pursue a career around classic and historic vehicles, “The FBHVC has reinforced its campaign to maintain skills within the industry by committing to create the only course of its kind not only in England, but Europe. The full-time City & Guilds course I was fortunate enough to attend in the mid-90s suffered from a lack of student and government commitment, so I recognize how important it is to develop a framework attractive to colleges, potential employers and the right calibre of student. This exactly what the classic car industry needs to safeguard its future and the employment of tens of thousands already supporting the sector.” The course is seeking approval by May in order to start in September. Currently, there is no government funding available to develop such courses. However, Bicester Heritage business campus in Oxfordshire, itself already committed to historic motoring, has in its role as main patron, presented the FBHVC with a cheque for the five-figure sum needed to develop and promote the course. The other patrons are McGrath Maserati, the UK’s leading restorer of historic Maseratis, and the MG Car Club. A key benefit of an OFQUAL accredited vehicle restoration course is that other colleges can readily adopt the qualification as an off-the-shelf solution in their region. Critically, once approved and accredited, the course should attract government funding for students.