Preparation for new apprenticeship standard has paid off for S&B Automotive Academy, and it will benefit employers of coach and bus technicians too, says CEO Philip Marsh
Host of the IRTE Skills Challenge, S&B Automotive Academy, believe the new apprenticeship standard will benefit employers of coach and bus technicians.
“We were one of the first to adopt the new standard, and that put us in a very strong position,” says CEO Philip Marsh.
“We were able to plan ahead, and because we worked so closely with our partners on recruitment – even though employers have taken that little bit longer to choose – not only have we recruited more apprentices, but we’ve actually retained better: 50% up on last year.”
Given employers played a central role in writing the new standard, the courses offered should clearly reflect the skills needed in the modern workshop.
“The employers have said what they want and how they want it, and there’s been a broad range of employers involved. Because we invested a lot of time in the standard, we can make sure we match the course with the employer.
“We’ve hosted the Skills Challenge for many years now. There’s always a real buzz around the place, and to get everyone together can only be beneficial.”
With over 30 teams confirmed, the IRTE Skills Challenge testing week takes place at S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol from 4-8 June.
