Apprentices in the driving seat at Newark College with new workshop a big asset for future technology
Automotive apprentices are settling into a new state-of-the-art workshop.
The facility was launched at Newark College in January, built with future proofing in mind to give students the chance to get hands-on experience with the latest technology.
The workshop forms part of a wider effort to encourage more young people into apprenticeships, something being highlighted during National Apprenticeship Week.
As automotive technology evolves beyond petrol and diesel engines, the new workshop will help teach apprentices about new advances as they emerge, including ADAS — Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared.
Auto instructor Chris Chapman said: “This project involved a good six months of preparation, sweat, toil and labour. It’s absolutely perfect. It is such a good area.
“Having the amount of equipment we have enables us to have a lot more student groups in at once.
“There are businesses in and around Newark who are crying out for apprentices and we are able to help train them.
“It’s really important to train more apprentices because there will be a shortfall or people with the knowledge to be able to work on modern vehicles very soon.
“We have equipment to help align the autonomous sensors on vehicles to help make them safe. Most modern vehicles from 2009 onwards have some form of ADAS and most garages don’t have the equipment to be able to do this.
“So the first time these apprentices will have seen this equipment is when they come in to us.”
Max Hill and Jordan Lanes, both level two apprentices from Newark, were equally impressed with the new workshop
Jordan said: “It’s one of the nicest workshops I’ve ever been in. The equipment is as good as it gets.
“Sometimes at work you are left to yourself to self learn but here we get more guidance and feel supported. It feels a lot more technical.
And Max said: “Our teachers are good. They’re very knowledgeable and always willing to help.
“Obviously we can’t know everything and if we ever have questions, there’s always someone happy to answers us.”
Jordan said: “I’m really looking forward to moving on to level three and learning those future technologies.”
“It’s always good to better yourself and keep developing and I’m excited for what comes next.”
