Jaguar and Land Rover are offering youngsters aged 16-plus a unique opportunity to forge a career within their nationwide network of Body & Paint Centres of Excellence.

Jaguar and Land Rover Technical Academy has joined forces with the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre at Thatcham in Berkshire to launch two all-new advanced apprenticeships in body repair and paint refinishing.

Thatcham is an acknowledged world leader in body repair technology and training and Technical Academy operates the most successful service technician apprenticeship in the industry, so the new tie-in is certain to provide participants with the skills required to succeed in one of the fastest growing and probably most specialised sectors of automotive retail.

Jaguar and Land Rover already work very closely with Thatcham to develop their vehicle body technologies. The construction methods employed in the company’s current models, allied to the increasing use of composite materials and ever-more sophisticated safety systems, means body repair is now more a science than a mechanical process. The new apprenticeships will play an important role in the companies’ drive to develop the talent capable of repairing the Jaguars and Land Rovers of tomorrow. 

Technical Academy is initially looking to recruit around 50 youngsters a year over the next three years. No previous experience is required but applicants should possess ambition and enthusiasm as the training will be intensive. Apprentices on both courses will attend the Thatcham Apprentice Centre in four two week blocks each year and the training will be structured in such a way as to ensure students always return to their bodyshops with useable new skills. Apprentices will have access to the very latest Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles as well as other manufacturers’ cars so that they are fully immersed in all aspects of their art.

In addition each apprentice will have a mentor at the Body & Paint Centre of Excellence at which they will be employed to provide day-to-day guidance and support, while a Thatcham assessor will visit regularly to ensure he or she is keeping pace with their studies. A package of benefits unique to Technical Academy apprentices includes a factory tour and an off-road adventure as part of the induction process and a visit to a remote part of the world to participate in a community project in their final year.

The Body Repair apprenticeship focuses on panel repair, body realignment and working with the various vehicle materials. The Paint Refinishing apprenticeship covers panel preparation, colour matching and paint mixing and spraying.

Students that successfully complete their courses – as 95 per cent of Technical Academy apprentices do – will attain NVQ Levels 2 & 3 in Vehicle Body & Paint Operations, accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), plus Technical and Key Skills certificates. They will also have the opportunity to become ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation) accredited.    

Students keen to register their interest in the programme and anyone wanting more information about the new advanced apprenticeships should contact the Technical Academy hotline on 01926 648107.

Technical Academy operates a rolling starts policy on all its apprenticeships, so enrolments are accepted all year round.