Apprentice Level 3 Accident Repair Technician

Group 1 Automotive; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days leave (incl bank holidays)

Retail discounts

Car discounts and servicing offers

Pension scheme

Family-friendly policies

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Group 1 Automotive invites applications for the Bodyshop Technician Apprentice role at BMW Southend. You’ll train at a dedicated BMW facility in Doncaster for off-the-job training, gaining hands-on experience across the full accident repair journey and earning while you learn.

You will work with experienced technicians, learn paint, panel and MET skills, and complete manufacturer training with regular reviews and support from BMW representatives.

Qualifications

• Interest in vehicles and automotive industry.
• Good manual dexterity and practical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently.
• Professional and responsible approach to work.
• Honesty, reliability and good timekeeping.

Responsibilities

• Assist with removing, repairing and refitting damaged vehicle panels and components.
• Learn panel repair, dent removal and refinishing techniques.
• Assist with vehicle damage assessments and quality checks.
• Prepare vehicles for refinishing and learn paint systems, primers and top coats.
• Develop knowledge of engines, transmissions and ADAS technologies.
• Maintain a clean, safe and organised workstation and work with mentor to deliver great customer outcomes.

Skills

Interest in vehicles

Manual dexterity

Attention to detail

Positive attitude

Teamwork

Follow instructions

Professionalism

Reliability

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

Job description

Bodyshop Technician Apprentice –BMW Southend

Learn skills that will set you up for life.

Join our friendly and professional team as an Apprentice Bodyshop ART Technician and start earning while you gain a nationally recognised qualification. Working within a busy BMW/MINI Bodyshop, you'll learn from experienced technicians and develop the skills needed to repair accident-damaged vehicles to the high standards of the BMW and MINI brands.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve with new technologies and repair techniques, you'll be supported every step of the way through a structured apprenticeship programme designed to help you build a successful long-term career.

What we can offer you

• Enjoy 33 days of annual leave(including bank holidays) to rest and recharge
• Save money every day withour exclusive retail discounts
• Drive a great dealwith discounts on new and used cars, plus servicing offers
• Plan for the years aheadwith our company pension scheme
• Balance home and workwith our industry-leading family-friendly policies designed to help you spend more time with the people that matter
• Commute for lesswith our cycle-to-work scheme
• Prioritise your wellbeingwith dedicated support for you and your family
• 24/7 access to healthcare professionals, ensuring you get the expert advice you need quickly and easily
• Make a differencewith a paid day to volunteer in your community
• Invest in your futurewith our company share purchase plan
• Earn financial rewardswhen you refer a friend to join the team
• Keep learning and growingwith our training and development opportunities for everyone.
• Life assurancewith the option to increase cover

Your training

All BMW/MINI Bodyshop Apprentices attend a dedicated BMW training facility in Doncaster for off-the-job training.

The state-of-the-art centre is equipped with BMW vehicles and BMW colour systems, ensuring apprentices receive industry-leading manufacturer training.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will benefit from:

• A dedicated workplace mentor
• Regular reviews and support from a BMW representative
• Performance and development reviews every 12 weeks
• Specialist manufacturer training delivered by industry experts

Training will include:

• Multi-disciplined Bodyshop Technician training incorporating Paint, Panel and MET
• F-Gas Refrigerant Handling
• BMW High Voltage Level 2 qualification

What you’ll do day to day

Working alongside experienced Bodyshop Technicians, you'll gain hands-on experience across all areas of accident repair, following the complete vehicle repair journey.

• Removing, repairing and refitting damaged vehicle panels and components
• Learning panel repair, panel beating and dent removal techniques
• Assisting with vehicle damage assessments
• Preparing vehicles and panels for refinishing
• Learning the application of primers, base coats, topcoats and clear coats
• Developing knowledge of paint systems, paint equipment and special effect paints
• Carrying out quality checks to ensure repairs meet manufacturer standards
• Understanding vehicle body alignment and welding techniques
• Learning about steering, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres
• Developing knowledge of engines and transmission systems
• Gaining awareness of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and emerging vehicle technologies
• Maintaining a clean, safe and organised working environment
• Working closely with your team and mentor to deliver excellent customer outcomes
• Completing all apprenticeship coursework and training requirements

Helpful skills and qualifications

Don’t worry about ticking off every single skill here− if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you.

• A genuine interest in vehicles and the automotive industry
• Good manual dexterity and practical skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• The ability to follow instructions and work independently when required
• A professional and responsible approach to work
• Honesty, reliability and good timekeeping

Applicants should have, or be predicted to achieve:

• GCSE (or equivalent) Grade 4/C or above in English
• GCSE (or equivalent) Grade 4/C or above in Maths

We value diversity and believe it strengthens our team. If you don’t meet every requirement listed but are enthusiastic about this role and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Be part of something big

Group 1 Automotive is on an exciting growth journey. We are home to over 7000 colleagues dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with 114 dealerships in the UK, representing 21 brands at the forefront of automotive retail.

But you don’t need to love cars to work with us- just need to share our mission to create outstanding and trusted experiences for our customers, our partners, and our people.

Our Values

At Group 1 Automotive we pride ourselves on our five core values that are incorporated in all we that do.

Respect - Integrity - Transparency - Teamwork – Professionalism

These are the principles that every member of our team lives by, whether that be business functions, customer interactions, how we interact with the local community and even how we view each other in the team.