New apprenticeship course delivers automotive skills boost

A new course will be launched at The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) to help prevent traditional automotive craft skills being lost.

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, has 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 36,000ft² 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.

MCMT www.mcmt.co.uk