During this apprenticeship

You will be working within our busy Workshop and assisting with repairs to body panels on coaches. It will also involve welding and painting.

You will be part of a small bodyshop team where you will receive support and guidance throughout the apprenticeship.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• To assist with the repair of vehicle body panels, structural components and internal fittings
• Support the replacement of damaged bodywork, using industry standard techniques, for example cutting, welding and riveting
• Preparing vehicle exteriors for painting through sanding, masking, filling and priming
• Assist with painting and refinishing work under supervision, ensuring a high quality finish
• Learn how to use specialist workshop equipment such as welding tools, sanders and spray facilities
• Support the Workshop team in managing tools, equipment and materials

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Course contents

• Ability to undertake appropriate job preparation prior to commencing repair, including safety precautions, panel preparation and body measurements.
• Ability to identify the material used in the construction to enable the correct joining techniques and manufacturer specifications to be adhered to.
• Ability to interpret relevant technical data and methods to make sure that any joints are in line with vehicle manufacturer specification and the vehicle/body panels are aligned correctly
• Ability to identify and understand the correct joining technology, e.g. when to use resistance spot welding or mig brazing or bonding.
• Ability to remove, repair and replace vehicle body panels and components of the vehicle safely and efficiently
• Ability to identify and operate the correct repair tools, equipment and devices used in the process, panel pulling systems, jig and alignment tools, spot welders, brazing tools.
• Ability to identify and communicate supplementary damage such as panels that were deemed to be reparable but once worked on were found to be beyond repair along with damage that could not be established on original inspection.
• Ability to detect and rectify faults within a vehicles structure that’s integral to its safety