TTS on Front Line of Apprentice Training During COVID-19 Pandemic
TTS apprentices have moved to online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Under normal circumstances, TTS provides training for around 200 employed apprentices. Training is a combination of tutor training at TTS’s purpose-built, modern facility at Nutts Corner Business Park and ‘on-the-job’ training in the workplace. With the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent ‘lockdown’, the TTS training facility was closed, and many apprentices were furloughed by their employers.
Within just two weeks, TTS had moved to online training platforms, including Google Classrooms, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, as well as the Electude online learning platform that TTS apprentices were already familiar with. Much of the training has been supported by each technical trainer carrying out live theory-based learning using interactive presentations and discussion. These new learning methods had to be approved by Department for Economy (DfE) and the accreditation body, the Institute for the Motor Industry (IMI). DfE has taken a keen interest in the systems TTS is now using for continued delivery.
Apprenticeship qualifications at TTS are awarded by the IMI and apprentices work towards a progress percentage against their IMI e-portfolio. Using the online learning in conjunction with their normal ‘write-ups’, and to the credit of the dedication of the apprentices and their trainers, most apprentices have been able to progress at a rate almost on par with normal circumstances.
The main challenge in progressing has been on the employer side of things. Around 80-85% of TTS apprentices were put on furlough, with the exception of some of the heavy vehicle employers that worked through lockdown to service/repair vehicles delivering food for example. Apprentices not on furlough have been able to further boost their portfolio percentage by submitting work-based evidence. TTS trainers have been unable to visit apprentices in the workplace to carry out work-based observations.
TTS’s Training Director, Stephen Wilkinson, is pleased with feedback from apprentices:
“The adaption to home-based learning has broadly been received well by apprentices, who have been accepting of the government-imposed restrictions. Responses to our surveys and ongoing communications show that our apprentices would much prefer face-to-face training but are mostly satisfied or very satisfied with the online training to date. Plus, we have been open to adapting our methods as we’ve learnt what works best and what our apprentices prefer. For example, we added the use of zoom for virtual classes following initial feedback once we got protocols in place to protect the learners. However, apprenticeships generally appeal to those that prefer to learn ‘hands-on’, so it is no surprise that our apprentices and trainers alike are keen to get back to practical learning methods as soon as possible”.
TTS’s goal throughout has been to keep existing apprentices engaged and on track to graduate when they are due to, something that has so far been successful. With the exception of one apprentice, who decided on a change of career path, all TTS apprentices remain engaged in their development programme, evidenced by their e-portfolio scores. Although some apprentices are starting back to work, others are, unfortunately still under threat with some having been informed by employers that they are on 90 days’ notice at risk of redundancy. TTS is confident that employers will see the value in keeping apprentices employed though, given the inexpensiveness of apprentices relative to their productivity. The IMI carried out an extensive study which showed apprentices typically generate a return on investment of between 150% and 300% and typically generate profit within 18-24 months.
As well as ongoing training, TTS’s Careers Development Officer, Robert Deignan, has continued his pastoral check-ins with each apprentice. As well as recruiting apprentices, Robert’s role involves ensuring that all apprentices are developing well and integrating successfully into his/her workplace, and to provide regular feedback on progress
Robert had this to say: “In the forefront of our minds there was the issue of isolation and how this could impact on one of our most vulnerable groups of our society - our young people! I’ve endeavoured to keep connected with apprentices, outside of their daily contact with trainers, to safeguard their mental well-being too. Although it’s difficult to know what individuals have going on at home, I’ve been working with young people for over 20 years so I’d like to think I would pick up on the signs if any of our apprentices were distressed”.
Indeed, at least two TTS apprentices have been supplementing their development by volunteering to help those most vulnerable in our communities. One is volunteering at his local grocery store in Cullybackey, preparing grocery orders for those that are isolating. The other is helping to prepare orders at an arable farm in Comber.
DfE have now announced that apprentices can be brought into TTS for assessments which cannot be done remotely, for example, practical tasks in workshops and PC-based end-of-unit tests. TTS is now completing robust risk assessments to satisfy DfE that safe arrangements are in place and deep-cleaning is underway. Although TTS already operates with maximum class sizes of ten (and an average of eight) to facilitate learning (compared with 16 in the Training for Success scheme), it is thought that social ‘bubbles’ of four in the classroom and four in the workshop, may be the way forward. The priority will be apprentices due to complete Level 3 and qualify at the end of August 2020 and those due to complete Level 2 and progress to Level 3 in September 2020.
Why Employing an Apprentice Could be Just Right for Your Business
Your business, and especially your workshop, needs enthusiastic capable Technicians - not easy to find these days, but Transport Training Services believes it has the answer. The motor and transport industry training centre can help employers to recruit and train enthusiastic young apprentices. TTS receives applications from a variety of young people looking to start a career in the motor industry, and at this time of year, around half of applicants are getting ready for GCSEs or A-Levels and have already made up their mind to leave school and enter the world of work. Other applicants have already left school and have some experience in routine jobs, but are keen to begin a new challenge in an industry they’ve always had a keen interest in and would love the chance to become a skilled technician or advisor.
At any given time, TTS has over 200 employed apprentices in training and the organisation partners with around 60 employers to provide a 3-year programme for technicians and a 2 year programme for Parts and Service Advisors. The TTS block delivery training system is an effective way of strengthening workshop teams with training that makes apprentices useful and productive quickly, and at the end of the apprenticeship be a qualified and skilled member of the team. Apprentices attend the modern purpose-built TTS training centre for one-week blocks every eight weeks where they receive a blend of classroom theory and practical workshop tasks, working towards IMI Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications.
September 2020 will likely see changes in the government-funded vocational programmes meaning that 16-18 year-old trainees will no longer be available for long-term unpaid ‘work experience’ within businesses. That’s another good reason to consider investing in your future by actually employing a capable young person who’s keen to learn and make a good addition to your team as an apprentice.
Here’s the experience of Samuel Harron, from Bangor, a 1st year apprentice at Belfast Audi:
“I left school in June 2019 after completing A-levels, but I didn’t particularly want to go on to higher education. I had been racing go-karts since I was 8 and was always interested in cars. I applied for TTS, and after passing their pre-entry aptitude test, Robert Deignan signposted me towards vacancies in the Agnew Group. I’m now more than half way through my 1st year as an apprentice technician in Belfast Audi and I’m loving every minute of it.”
Samuel’s workshop supervisor, Jim Madden, is also delighted with Samuel’s impact in the business:
“Samuel has excelled in his first few months. His passion for cars has driven him to put in the effort required to perform at the highest level. In this time he has studied with TTS and online with Audi UK which has given him an understanding of what is required to be successful in his apprenticeship. Through this studying and working alongside his mentor Ben McKeating, he has used our systems and processes of work including the workshop manual and state of the art workshop diagnostic equipment.
With this knowledge Samuel, under close supervision, can now complete service work and has carried out some repairs. With further training and support from ourselves and TTS he will continue to progress into diagnosing and repair in the future. We look forward to working closely with TTS in the coming years and helping to coach and mentor Samuel to achieve his potential and reach the highest levels within the workshop at Belfast Audi.”
Heavy Vehicle applicant, Jay Cardwell, from Belfast is getting ready for GCSEs at Belfast Boys Model school: “I applied to TTS after they attended a Careers Fair in my school. I recently passed the TTS aptitude tests, they were challenging and made me realise that I need to work hard at school to achieve GCSE passes in English and Maths. Robert at TTS has helped me with my CV and has arranged an interview for an apprenticeship in a franchised truck dealer in Mallusk”.
There just might be an ideal Apprentice candidate for your business so please call with Robert, have a look at our Centre at Nutts Corner and check out the possibilities.
You can contact Robert Deignan, Careers Development Officer at robertd@transporttraining.org or by telephone on 028 90825653.
Ford Technicians and Apprentices Successfully Complete 5 Days of Specialist Ford Training at TTS
TTS recently organised and hosted Ford specialist training at its training centre in Nutts Corner. The 5-day programme was primarily aimed at current TTS apprentices as well as recently qualified apprentices and technicians in the trade working with the Ford brand. The modules covered were Basic Electrics and Electronics; Steering, Suspension and Brakes; and Service Quality.
TTS would like to place on record its thanks to specialist Ford trainer Colin Crick who expertly delivered the programme and at the same time ensured that TTS trainer John Walsh is now equipped to deliver Ford modules at TTS in the future. Participation in the course awards credits on the FordLearn system and therefore provides a cost effective solution to accreditation for apprentices and technicians.
Picture caption – Pictured with Ford specialist technical trainer Colin Crick (left) and TTS technical trainer John Walsh (right) are Darren Anderson, Lee Krelle, David Brown, Jamie Houston, Marc Patton, Caolan Jack and Christopher Laverty
The TTS Apprentice 100 - Meeting the Increasing Demand for a Skilled Workforce
Transport Training Services (TTS) has launched its 2019 apprenticeship recruitment campaign and is aiming to exceed last year’s figure by recruiting 100 new apprentices. The apprenticeships will start on or before September 2019 and will supply the industry with talented young people in a variety of apprentice job roles – light and heavy vehicle technicians, body repair and vehicle refinish technicians, motorcycle repair technicians, tyre technicians as well as aftersales and parts advisors. TTS will also be further developing its driving goods vehicles apprenticeship, as well as offering a new traffic office apprenticeship for those who wish to embark on a career in traffic planning and logistics.
“These are exciting times for TTS as we aim to build upon last year’s record recruitment of over 85 new apprentices who entered the motor vehicle and transport sectors in September 2018”, says CEO Martin Hutchinson. “These recruits have quickly become productive in their new job roles. This can only be good news for employers who are faced with skills shortages in a number of areas.”
According to a skills shortage report published by the Freight Transport Association in November last year, over half of all large good vehicle drivers in the UK are age 45+ (56%) and the report estimates that there is a shortfall of large good vehicle drivers of 35,000. The shortage of technicians is more difficult to quantify but there is significant anecdotal evidence from local employers that this is a huge issue. The most recent Employer Skills Survey (2017) published by the Department for Education, which interviewed 87,430 employers across the UK (3,973 of which were in NI) highlights that around two in every five vacancies for roles classed as “Skilled Trades” were “proving hard to fill for skills related reasons”. Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians came second on the list of specific job roles that account for the largest proportion of all Skilled Trades skill-shortage vacancies, giving a strong indication of the challenges employers face.
TTS offers both employers and young people an efficient and robust assessment and job matching service so that ‘job-ready’ applicants can be quickly matched to ‘live’ vacancies. Robert Deignan, Careers Development Officer at TTS, is actively building partnerships with schools and promoting motor vehicle careers at jobs fairs and other community outreach events. This activity has stimulated a significant number of apprentice applications from school leavers and young people interested in kick-starting their career. Each applicant is assessed at TTS using a range of bespoke diagnostic tests. Suitable prospects are then connected directly to employers for further assessment, work trials and final interviews. As Robert explains, “The diagnostic assessment tool is a good indicator of an applicant’s ability in literacy, numeracy, mechanical aptitude and cognitive reasoning. Individual assessment ensures that only suitable prospects are put forward to employers for consideration.”
TTS has well-established business partnerships with the main employers in the transport and motor sectors in Northern Ireland. Current partners on the ApprenticeshipsNI* programme include a variety of franchise brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Ford, VW, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Renault, Kia, Hyundai and Fiat. TTS train apprentices for Charles Hurst Group, The Agnew Group, Donnelly Group and TrustFord, and at the heavy vehicle end of the industry TTS partner employers include Dennison Commercials (Volvo), Road Trucks (Scania), TBF Thompson (DAF), NI Trucks (Iveco) and Diamond Trucks (Renault). TTS also helps recruit and train motivated, job-ready young people who are keen to begin their journey in the industry for smaller independent employers and family businesses throughout Northern Ireland.
Dominic Kelly, Training Manager for Charles Hurst Group had this to say:
“Last year TTS helped us to recruit six aftersales advisor apprentices and four technician apprentices for our franchise dealerships in Belfast and Newtownabbey. The aftersales role is new and is our way of providing an exciting career path for young people entering the motor industry”.
Isobel Allison, Group HR Manager for NI Trucks added:
“We have worked closely with TTS in apprenticeship recruitment and training for a number of years. TTS provide initial filtering and testing of applicants for our depots in Mallusk and Portadown and this ensures that we get the right young people into the company. TTS technical trainers also visit our workplace on a regular basis to assess apprentice competence on the job”.
The Ballymena-based Wrights Group enjoys a close working relationship with TTS for the delivery of its vehicle body and paint apprenticeship, a partnership that has been fostered over a number of years with proven results. John Lynham, Wrights Group Academy Manager, is highly impressed with TTS’s service level:
“As a global business we instinctively know that TTS will deliver highly skilled individuals at the end of the training programme who consistently add value and quality to our paint and finish process. TTS assist with all stages of the apprenticeship journey from recruitment right through to graduation, and they have exceptional facilities that enable our apprentices to learn, grow and develop – without doubt, all of the learners’ needs are catered for. Their “block training” approach rather than day release is perfect for the learner and the business. We are delighted to have TTS as our training partner, and we are always impressed by every member of the TTS team with which we have contact”.
From its purpose-built, modern facility at Nutts Corner Business Park, TTS currently provides training on a ‘block release’ basis for more than 200 employed apprentices. Each apprentice attends the training centre one week every two months for a blend of workshop practical tasks, classroom theory and e-learning. After three years they are fully qualified in their chosen vocational area with Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) Level 3 technical qualifications. Moreover, they are fully productive and ready to make an even greater contribution towards meeting the needs of the business. Due to the recent growth in demand, TTS is currently recruiting an additional technical trainer and investing over £100,000 in modern equipment for training.
TTS has a strong pastoral element to its programmes to ensure young people are progressing well in their development and integrating well into their place of employment.
David Fullerton, Apprentice at AIR Commercial Services in Ballymena commented:
“I could have gone on to university after completing my A-Levels, but I decided on an apprenticeship and I’m really glad I chose this path. I’ll be completing a Level 3 apprenticeship in heavy vehicle repair this summer and I’m looking forward to a successful career in the industry”.
Matthew Mount, Apprentice at Wrights Accident Repair Centre in Dromore agreed:
“I joined TTS in 2016 and have just completed my apprenticeship in car body repair at Wrights Accident Repair Centre in Dromore. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and have now got IMI Level 2 and 3 qualifications through TTS which will serve me well in my future career. I have secured full-time employment at Wrights and I’ll be happy to stay in the job for many years to come”.
TTS is interested in hearing from young people aged 16-25 who are keen to embark on a career in the motor or transport industries and take advantage of the opportunities being provided by employers throughout Northern Ireland. Equally the business is keen to speak to local employers who would be interested in helping young people to ‘join the TTS 100’ in 2019.
*ApprenticeshipsNI is funded by the Department for the Economy (DFE) and the European Social Fund (ESF) and is available to young people between the ages of 18 and 25.
Contacts
Reader enquiries: Martin Hutchinson, CEO, TTS or Robert Deignan, Careers Development Officer, TTS Tel: 028 9082 5653 or email: robertd@transport-training.co.uk
Editorial enquiries: Laura Reeve Tel: 07813 019 475 or email: laura.reeve@genieinsights.com
Notes for Editors
Transport Training Services
Transport Training Services (TTS) is a social enterprise which focuses solely on apprenticeships and career development training specifically for the retail motor trade and transport industry in Northern Ireland. TTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Transport Training Board for Northern Ireland. Backed by over 25 years’ experience TTS is a leading, recognised transport training service provider.
https://www.transport-training.com/
IMI Accredited Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Upskill Training Available at TTS
Transport Training Services is responding to industry demand by offering training on electric/hybrid vehicles for fully qualified technicians needing to upskill and qualify to work on electric/hybrid vehicles.
Driven by targets set by government to enable adoption of zero emission cars and vans, there is a very real need to increase technician competence and in turn, consumer confidence that electric and hybrid vehicles can be maintained properly and safely. Recognising this early on, TTS set out to address the issue within Northern Ireland and now has trainers suitably qualified to deliver Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) TechSafe™ courses.
As Northern Ireland’s premier motor industry training specialist, TTS has acquired three hybrid vehicles, including a brand new, top of the range Toyota RAV4, plus an additional new plug-in hybrid to ensure that learners are training on the most up-to-date vehicle specifications.
TTS can offer a range of electric/hybrid courses but for now is focusing primarily on the Level 3 Award in Electric/Hybrid Vehicle System Repair and Replacement qualification (ref 603/1468/0), since this is the most relevant and in-demand requirement currently. This is a two-day course for experienced mechanics/technicians, which enables successful candidates to work safely around EV/hybrid vehicles and includes vehicles that may have damage to their high voltage system.
This training reduces the risk of accidents with these high voltages and the qualification helps employers meet their ‘duty of care’ under the Electricity at Work Regulations, to prevent danger when carrying out work on electrical systems.
Participants will be issued with internationally recognised certification upon completion of an EV course delivered at TTS’s Nutts Corner training facility, and their details will be held on the IMI Professional Register so that motorists can check if technicians at their chosen garage are able to work on their vehicle safely.
So far, feedback from industry and from course participants has been extremely positive, with post-training questionnaires, which cover TTS facilities, course content and trainer knowledge, rating all aspects highly. One trainee commented: “I found the assessor’s information relevant to my field and I’m very happy with the information I’m leaving with”, while others commended the trainers with comments such as “helpful”, “knowledgeable” and even “witty”, and for making them “feel comfortable”.
TTS is also committed to integrating EV/hybrid training into its technical apprenticeships for those already enrolled on its technician apprenticeship programmes.
The Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has given its endorsement to the IMI TechSafe™ standards for people working on electrified vehicles.
Martin Hutchinson, CEO of TTS added: “We continually strive to deliver practical training to Northern Ireland’s motor industry technical personnel so they can stay relevant in an industry that is making rapid technological changes. Giving technicians the necessary skills to safely work on high voltage vehicles is just one area that we are currently focusing on”.
The next Level 3, two-day course at TTS, Nutts Corner is 28 and 29 January 2020 and is being offered for the introductory cost of just £299+VAT (including registration and certification fee) for a limited time only. Courses are limited to 10 delegates to ensure sufficient practical work opportunities.
TTS on Target for the 2019 TTS100 Apprentice Recruitment
Transport Training Services has welcomed its first 2019/20 intake of apprentices to its purpose-built training centre at Nutts Corner.
Around 70 apprentices have already been recruited and placed with a range car and commercial vehicle employers across Northern Ireland. Approximately two-thirds of these are light vehicle technician apprentices, with the remainder in heavy vehicle technician, aftersales, body repair and paint, and driving apprenticeship roles. The commercial vehicle driver apprentices start at any time of year.
Included in this year’s intake are three female apprentices – two technician apprentices and one in an aftersales advisor apprenticeship.
All TTS apprentices will start sometime between the beginning of September and the end of October, depending on the course and employer, but all have attended TTS in early September for induction, course registration and preparation for employment.
With the weekly ‘block’ pattern of training that TTS delivers it is possible for apprentices to start at any time of year. Most will start in the autumn but TTS will endeavour to facilitate the needs of employers and young people throughout the year.
As well as heavy and light vehicle technician, body repair and paint, parts and service advisor and commercial vehicle/passenger transport driving apprenticeships, TTS is launching a tyre technician apprenticeship, in collaboration with the National Tyre Distributors Association, and a Traffic Office apprenticeship with the Road Haulage Association.
Because of the success of this year’s recruitment campaign, technical training provision at TTS has been expanded with the employment of an additional trainer, John Walsh. This brings the total number of TTS trainers to six full time and seven associates.
TTS’s 2019/20 apprentice employers are split almost 50:50 between the main car and truck dealerships and independent companies across Northern Ireland. These employers have recognised the importance of bringing new talent into the motor and transport industries via apprenticeships to support business growth or simply to survive. With businesses all competing for the same diminishing pool of qualified technicians, drivers and aftersales staff in both sectors, well-recruited apprentices offer long term sustainability in the labour market.
Martin Hutchinson, CEO of TTS explained, “At TTS we firmly believe the only viable solution to today’s labour market challenges is to bring new blood into the motor and transport sectors via apprenticeships. Industry has a responsibility to secure its own future workforce by training our young people and return on investment studies show that employers reap the benefits quickly”.
Growing and developing your own talent can improve how you work, raise your productivity and increase your profits. Verified research by the Institute of the Motor Industry found that apprentices typically generate a return on investment of between 150 and 300% and can generate profit within 18-24 months, often earlier. Figures produced by another study showed that the average apprenticeship improves business productivity by £214 per week, with the apprentice national minimum wage starting at just £3.90. Additionally, growing the workforce using apprentices reduces long term recruitment and training costs.
If none of the above are good enough reasons to recruit an apprentice, giving a young person a good start in life is a socially responsible and rewarding thing to do. We all had to start somewhere!
TTS apprentices are vetted through a robust assessment programme to ascertain their suitability and are put through basic skills training, so employers are assured of recruits that are eager to learn, adaptable and well prepared for the workplace. Apprentices and employers both benefit from TTS’s Career Development Officer, Robert Deignan, who is the link between both parties, supporting each with every part of the apprenticeship, from recruitment through to training and qualification.
As well as training apprentices to industry standards, TTS can also incorporate brand-specific modules for employers that require tailored training content and work closely with Peugeot/Citroen, Ford, Toyota/Lexus, Kia, Hyundai and in the truck sector DAF, Renault, Iveco and Scania.
Unlike some other apprenticeship providers, TTS apprentices work for their employer five days per week all year round, with the exception of attendance at TTS approximately one week every two months for training. TTS prefers this ‘block release’ model to a weekly day release, because employers can more easily plan workload around the apprentice being away for training.
For apprentices under 25 years old, the cost of the apprenticeship training is fully funded by the Department for the Economy.
Employers considering an apprentice are encouraged to contact Robert Deignan at TTS as soon as possible to ensure recruitment is completed in time for the remaining 2019 intake.
Significant Investment at TTS to Drive Learning Forward
Due to the increasing levels of training being delivered by Transport Training Services at Nutts Corner, significant investment has been made on a number of fronts – namely access and parking facilities, new heavy vehicle equipment and a new computer suite.
Work undertaken by FP McCann over the past few weeks, will significantly improve site access and enhance safety. A new parking layout has also added much needed additional car parking space. This work is part of a wider traffic management scheme within Nutts Corner Business Park.
A brand new computer suite with 20 PCs has also been installed at TTS to meet the needs of the increasing use of online testing, e-Portfolio and e-Learning. The new facility has been possible with financial assistance via the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council GROW programme.
Having previously invested in individual ‘Electude’ e-learning resources, the new IT suite will enable apprentices and learners to access modern e-learning resources on brand new computers. Electude is the world’s leading provider of automotive e-learning solutions.
“By giving apprentices access to their individual e-learning ‘portal’ on any internet device at any time, the resource allows them to develop knowledge at their own pace as well as indicating to TTS the learners who have the keenest interest in furthering their career,” says Stephen Wilkinson, TTS Training Director.
The new computer suite has been up and running since the beginning of June and is providing huge benefits to young learners and other course participants.
A third recent investment is equipment to further improve on-site heavy vehicle training provision. Six Somers pillar lifts have been acquired and more diagnostic equipment is on the way, including a top of the range Bosch KTS capable of being used with trucks and motorcycles as well as light vehicles.
“We’ve created a dedicated HV workshop and installing the latest equipment is helping us deliver the best practical skills for our HV apprentices,” said Michael Hutchinson, Technical Trainer and HV specialist.
TTS are aiming to further extend and enhance their heavy vehicle training provision to address current and future skills shortages in the industry, most notably in the area of driver and technicians.
Last but not least, a new commercial vehicle driving simulator is due at TTS in the near future. Martin Hutchinson, CEO commented:
“We’re looking forward to commissioning this surprisingly expensive installation. However, it’ll be worth it as the objective is to deliver more efficient and safer commercial driver training, especially for young people on the TTS Commercial Driver training apprenticeship. It’s unfair to send relatively inexperienced young people out on the road in an 18 tonne truck at an early stage of training, therefore the simulator will help them get familiar with controlling a large vehicle to the required standard before going onto the public highway.”
These changes are just part of many ongoing improvements at TTS to serve the local automotive and transport industries, and as always, employers are welcome to visit the facilities and speak to the team.
TTS Launches Schools Initiatives to Help Link School Studies to the Real World of Work!
Transport Training Services (TTS) has recently launched two new and exciting schools initiatives which it believes will stimulate a greater level of interest in careers in the motor and transport sector. The initiatives are primarily designed to demonstrate how Maths and Business Studies are relevant to job roles within the industry. Working with local schools and careers teachers, the “Maths in Action” and “Apprentice Challenge” initiatives develop links with Year 11-14 pupils in schools and promote career paths in the industry by getting the students involved in real ‘hands-on’ motor vehicle projects linked to the school curriculum.
The Maths in Action programme, launched in 2017, demonstrates the relevance of Mathematics to working in a local motor business through a variety of stimulating practical activities. The activities take place in TTS vehicle workshops at its purpose-built facility in Nutts Corner. A group of up to 12 students (ideally working towards the achievement of GCSEs i.e. Year 11 or 12) and 2 teachers can be accommodated during a 3 hour visit to TTS. The workshop activities include wheel balancing, wheel alignment, paint mixing, and paint spraying. Not only can the student get involved in these activities themselves, but the relevance of the tasks to various mathematical principles – geometry (angles, radius, circumference, speed) algebra (formulas and ratios) - is fully explained. A number of schools including Ulidia College, Edmund Rice College and De La Salle College have already enjoyed the Maths in Action experience at TTS and this has led to new applications for apprenticeship roles within the industry.
The second initiative, the Apprentice Challenge, involves a group of pupils (ideally Year 13) buying a vehicle at an auction and preparing it for resale to make a profit to be reinvested in school resources or donated to a local charitable cause. The programme lasts for 6-8 weeks and takes the students on an exciting journey whilst at the same time teaches them a lot about the skills needed to run a business – allocation of job roles, budget setting, product identification, auction bidding, purchasing, vehicle preparation and enhancement, and reselling. The first school to participate in this challenge has been Ballyclare Secondary School. Having been allocated a budget by the school, a team of 8 pupils from Year 13 undertook to source, purchase and resell a vehicle to raise funds for reinvestment in the school’s 6th form centre. The students visited Belfast City Auction in Carryduff and successfully acquired a Ford Fiesta at a competitive price. However there was no valid MOT certificate with the vehicle so the priority was then to service and fully prepare for MOT. This was done by the students themselves at TTS under the supervision of TTS technical training staff. Having shopped around to get the most competitively priced parts, a ‘service kit’ was then purchased at a local supplier. Shortly afterwards the service and MOT prep work was carried out by the students and staff at TTS. After a full valet using AutoGlym products the car was resold at auction for a healthy profit and these funds were reinvested in the school 6th form centre for the students to enjoy!!
TTS believe that such initiatives can build positive relationships with local schools whilst at the same time promote the various career paths within the motor vehicle industry. School leavers are often unaware of the breadth and variety of job roles within the industry and the rewarding careers that can be embarked upon through the ApprenticeshipsNI programme.
TTS offers a wide range of apprenticeship programmes. For local motor businesses we offer 3-year apprenticeship programmes Light Vehicle Repair, Heavy Vehicle Repair, Auto Electrical Repair, Motorcycle Repair, Fast Fit, Body Repair, Vehicle Refinishing, MET, Parts Advisor, Service Advisor, and Traffic Office. ApprenticeshipsNI is funded by the Department for the Economy (DFE) and the European Social Fund (ESF) and is available to young people between the ages of 16 and 25. For further information on the schools initiatives and apprenticeship programmes at TTS you can contact Robert Deignan on 028 9082 5653 or robertd@transport-training.co.uk.