Apprentice Vehicle Paint Technician

Waitrose & Partners; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking passionate individuals to join their team as Vehicle Paint Technicians. This permanent role offers a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment, with a focus on quality and safety. Apprentices will receive hands-on training at a leading automotive academy and gain essential skills in spray painting and vehicle repair. Enjoy a flexible working schedule and numerous benefits, including discounts and a commitment to work-life balance. If you're eager to start a rewarding career in the vehicle industry, this apprenticeship is the perfect fit.

Benefits

Partnership discounts after three months

Discounted cinema tickets

Discounted hotel stays

Flexible working arrangements

Parental leave policies

Qualifications

• Willingness to learn spray painting technology and vehicle preparation.
• Ability to adhere to health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Train as a Vehicle Paint Technician, learning preparation, spraying, and finishing.
• Maintain tools and equipment while ensuring safety and cleanliness.

Skills

English and Maths GCSE Grade C or Level 4

Interest in the vehicle industry

Job description

About the role

Do you have a passion for vehicles and want to understand how to repair and paint them? This is an excellent opportunity to work as part of a highly skilled workforce that is committed to quality. You will train as a qualified Vehicle Paint Technician, learning how to prepare, spray, and finish vehicles involved in collisions or other incidents. This includes ensuring correct colour matching and that the finish meets the Partnership's standards.

At a glance

This role is based at our Vehicle Workshop at Waitrose Distribution Centre in Bracknell, Berkshire.

This is a permanent position with a starting pay rate of £12.45 per hour. During the first year of your apprenticeship, you will work Monday to Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. From year 2 onwards, you will work flexibly across all shifts to gain broader experience.

We are recruiting candidates to start in August 2025.

About the role

The programme aims to equip Apprentices with skills and knowledge to repair, prepare, and paint our fleet of vehicles. You will learn spray painting technology, paint mixing, compositions, and various spraying methods, including vehicle preparation through masking and sanding.

You will also maintain tools and equipment, ensuring safety and cleanliness, and adhere to health and safety regulations. During the apprenticeship, you will demonstrate knowledge of colour identification and modern drying/curing techniques.

For more details, see the attached job outline.

Apprenticeship Training

Training combines on-the-job learning and seven-week training blocks annually at S&B's Automotive Academy in Bristol. Travel, accommodation, and meals are paid for by the Partnership. You will have a mentor and access to an electronic logbook to monitor progress. The apprenticeship lasts three years, culminating in a Vehicle Damage Paint Technician Level 3 qualification. After completion, you will become a qualified Technician, working shifts that may include any of the three shifts available.

Essential skills you'll need

• English and Maths GCSE Grade C or Level 4
• A proven interest in the vehicle industry

Benefits

• Partnership discounts after three months (25% in John Lewis & Partners, 20% in Waitrose & Partners)
• Discounted cinema tickets and VIP experiences
• Discounted hotel stays at John Lewis Partnership hotels
• Work-life balance, flexible working, and parental leave policies

More benefits can be found at: https://www.jlpjobs.com/about/benefits/

About The Partnership

We are the UK's largest employee-owned business, home to John Lewis and Waitrose. We focus on innovation, diversity, and shared ownership, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our success.

We encourage applications early as roles may close sooner due to high demand. Some roles require pre-employment vetting, including DBS checks and financial probity assessments. We support flexible working arrangements and invite you to discuss this during your interview.