Chrysler UK Ltd have just announced a new partnership with the UK’s largest training provider, VT Training, offering apprenticeships to young talent working at Chrysler dealerships around the UK. 

Chrysler UK brands include Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, and the new partnership to deliver apprenticeships is designed to meet the needs of dealers throughout the UK.  In the current economic climate, lower volumes of new car sales seem set to indicate a greater focus on vehicle maintenance and it is important that there are the skilled mechanics and technicians in place to meet demand.

 

“This is a national programme but with a focus on local need,” said Gary Davenport, Automotive Executive at VT Training.  “Training will be delivered in the workplace, with support from colleges local to Chrysler dealers.  This system is much more efficient to businesses in terms of employee time, plus it’s also very cost effective.  By working with dealers at a local level VT Training is able to tailor training to meet specific business needs.  This means that while an apprentice will gain a broad range of skills for the wider working environment, this is within a framework that tackles immediate requirements for a particular dealership.

 

“It’s really encouraging to see a company like Chrysler reacting to the current economic situation so positively,” added Gary.

 

“This kind of future planning has being recognised by the Government and other trade bodies as an essential tool to ensure sustainability.”

 

John Bailey, Service and Parts Director, at Chrysler UK Ltd, said: “Training for the future is going to be key for success, especially nurturing and developing technical and parts skills within our network.  We are especially pleased with the programme that VT Training has developed which delivers the underpinning knowledge at a college local to the dealer managed by VT Training to exacting standards.

 

“The college work is supported by coaches that work directly with each apprentice back at work.  We build on this with brand specific training delivered at our Milton Keynes training centre.

 

“Our parts consultant apprenticeship model allows the learner to study and achieve in their own workplace, again coached by skilled VT Training staff.  One major advantage of this new programme is that it is very cost effective and is free of charge at point of delivery for the dealers, which is critical in the current economic climate.”