Apprentice Vehicle Body Technician

Arriva Durham County Limited; North East; On-site; GBP 11,020 - 17,908; Full time

Job summary

Arriva Durham County Limited is offering an apprenticeship as a Vehicle Damage Technician based at the Durham depot. You will be trained to assess vehicle damage and decide on repairs, removing and fitting panels to keep buses running smoothly.

The 4-year programme includes a Level 3 qualification with 140 weeks of training at a partner workshop in Glasgow. You’ll work alongside an experienced team who mentor you, with progression and a starting wage detailed by age brackets.

Qualifications

• Programme designed for people at every stage in life, with an inquisitive mindset and problem solving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Assess vehicle damage and decide if repairable.
• Remove and repair damaged panels to keep buses running.
• Work with an experienced team at the Durham depot, with mentorship.
• Learn bodypanel repair techniques and safety/compliance requirements.

Job description

At Arriva, our Engineering Teams keep our buses moving and the communities we serve connected. Whether that’s getting children to school or commuters to work.

As an Apprentice Vehicle Damage Technician, you will be trained to assess vehicle damage, make decisions on whether it’s repairable, remove and repair damaged panels, to keep our buses running at their very best. You will be based at our Durham depot, working alongside an experienced team who will support and mentor you along the way.

This 4-year programme is working towards a Vehicle Damage Panel Technician Level 3 qualification with additional bus-specific modules. The course runs for 140 weeks with 5-day training blocks every 7 weeks which take place at our partner’s state-of-the-art workshop in Glasgow.

• Motor vehicle chassis and body alignment, e.g. underbody measurement and its impact on suspension and steering geometry
• Vehicle body types, panel identification, safety systems, materials and alternative fuel
• Use of Body Panel Repair tools, equipment and devices used in the process e.g. alignment jigs, resistance welding equipment, riveting and bonding tools
• Removal and replacement of body panels and associated parts e.g. mechanically fixed components, chemically fixed components
• Interpretation of technical data for joining techniques and replacement panels
• Health & Safety and compliance requirements of the bodyshop industry

The course runs for 140 weeks with 5-day training blocks every 7 weeks which take place at our partner’s state-of-the-art workshop in Glasgow. The course will give you skills and experience across all core elements of vehicle body repair including motor vehicle chassis and body alignment, vehicle body types, panel identification, safety systems, materials and alternative fuel, use of body panel repair tools and equipment, removal and replacement of body panels and associated parts, interpretation of technical data for joining techniques and replacement panels, and health & Safety and compliance requirements.

This is a programme designed for people at every stage in life. It could be your first venture into work after finishing school, or the exciting career move you’ve been looking for. Whatever your motivation, we’re looking for those with an inquisitive mindset who love solving problems and don’t mind getting their hands dirty.

As an apprentice with us the starting salary will be £8.00 per hour in your first year if you are under 18, £10.85 if you are 18 to 20 or £12.71 if you are 21 and over rising in line with national minimum wage and progression.

Together, we strive to make travelling by bus the best choice for everyone. With our doors open to all, you’ll have the chance to build a fulfilling career with us, one where you can explore your passions, aspirations and realise your full potential. As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to earn a competitive salary, and we'll be there to support you every step of the way.

You’ll also gain invaluable skills and knowledge that will stay with you for a lifetime. Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,400 people and delivering around 1.6 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day.

The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.