Member Article

MCMT delivers automotive heritage skills boost with launch of new Apprenticeship course

A new course is being launched to help prevent traditional automotive craft skills being lost forever.

The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT), which operates two state-of-the-art training centres in Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury, will initially be offering 15 people the opportunity to study a Heritage Engineering Technician apprenticeship.

The 3-year course will equip individuals with a host of skills and knowledge used in the restoration of classic cars, vintage racing and commercial vehicles by combining classroom teaching with the opportunity to apply their learning on real-life tasks, including rebuilding a classic car from scratch.

These skills range from the correct use of materials, tools and equipment to hand seaming, joining materials and understanding how you can find solutions without having any drawings available.

Seven people have already signed-up to take part in the national course, with four companies also showing their backing by offering full-time positions, including Classic Motor Cars and Valley Motorsport.

“It is anticipated that we need 1000 heritage engineering apprentices to offset the number of specialists that are retiring, before we lose these valuable skills forever,” explained Ian Warrilow, MCMT Course Tutor and a specialist in heritage engineering at Classic Motor Cars.

“The sector is an unsung hero of manufacturing and accounts for £5bn of UK GDP, whether it is in classic car restoration or making sure vintage racing vehicles are kept in prime condition. Our course at MCMT has been designed by experts and is ideal for young people or mature learners looking to train in an exciting career that could see them work on some of the world’s most famous cars.

“We are currently looking for 8 more individuals to fill the cohort and also for firms involved in heritage to come forward and back what we are trying to do so we can ensure that every participant has a job before they start.

Ian, who has worked in the industry for five decades, been lecturing for 14 years and restored over 20 classic cars, continued: “The course, which will deliver a Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship, will take between 42- 48 months and will be run on a residential basis with attendance 1 week in 4.”

The Heritage Engineering Technician apprenticeship will be delivered at MCMT’s 36,000 sq ft facility in Bridgnorth, just a stone’s throw away from Classic Motor Cars (CMC) – one of the UK’s leading restoration specialists.

Learners will be taken through the fundamentals of vehicle construction and technology, servicing and diagnosis of heritage vehicles and familiarisation with obsolete technology and systems.

They will also be trained in more modern manufacturing techniques, such as mechanical and electrical skills, CNC machining and metrology to help them develop heritage components through reverse engineering.

Harry Ruffell-Hazel is one of the first apprentices to sign up for the course after recently completing his Level 2 Light Vehicle Maintenance and securing a job at Classic Motor Cars.

The 19-year-old, who is already helping to restore a Lancia Aurelia, has set its sights on securing a career in automotive trim and believes this course will give him the perfect opportunity to hone his skills whilst learning from some of the best in the business.

“Classic cars are beautiful and to know I can play a role in restoring them to their natural glories is great,” added Harry.

“It’s all about learning new skills and making sure I get access to lots of different parts of the business with my training. That will make me a more rounded employee and means I can have an immediate positive impact at Classic Motor Cars.”

Harry will be joined by Ben Morris, who has swapped University for a more vocational approach to securing his dream job working with cars.

He too has been appointed by CMC and is keen to work on the mechanical side of heritage engineering, using his natural passion and practical skills to build on a CV that already features his own Chevrolet Camaro.

“I was doing Motorsport Engineering at University, but there wasn’t enough practical content for my liking, so I jumped at the chance to head over to MCMT. This way I get to immerse myself in everyday activities as well as learning from tutors that have been working in the industry for over 30 years.”

About MCMT

MCMT is an employer-led consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, In-Comm Training and Salop Design & Engineering.

The Heritage Engineering Technician apprenticeship is free for companies who have less than 50 employees who recruit a 16 to 18-year-old and, for those recruiting individuals aged 19 years +, there is a 5% contribution to the overall £26,000 course costs. For firms who have more than 50 staff, the cost of the training will be a flat 5%.

Whilst automotive is the first focus of the course, there are plans in place to expand the offer to coverage rail, aerospace and marine.

For further information or to register your interest, please visit www.mcmt.co.uk or follow @marchescentre on twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .