What do motor mechanics do?

Motor mechanics service and repair vehicles. This involves diagnosing faults, replacing or fixing parts and testing repairs. Motor mechanics may work on many different types of vehicles including cars, vans, lorries, coaches and motorbikes.

What sort of person should I be?

> Good with practical, mechanical and technical tasks
> Able to use maths to measure vehicle performance
> Able to solve problems
> Able to work safely
> Ability to drive is very useful
> May need to be prepared to work on Saturdays

What qualifications do I need?

You do not usually need qualifications to enter courses or training, but you may need to pass a college or apprenticeship assessment.

Are there opportunities for motor mechanics?

There is a shortage of qualified mechanics in theReading area and there are plenty of opportunities for trainees. Employers vary from small garages to arge dealerships. A mechanic with experience can work for themselves, perhaps as a mobile mechanic. Or, you can move into vehicle patrol work with a breakdown assistance company.

How would I train?

Carter and Carter is the main provider of apprenticeships in the motor industry. An apprenticeship normally lasts about 3 years and trainees need to complete it by their 25th birthday. So, you can be no older than 21 or 22 when you begin the apprenticeship. Training involves working for an employer and attending a college or training centre. Adults of any age can train to be a mechanic by finding an employer and going to college by block or day-release. Reading College, East Berkshire College and Newbury College all offer these courses in motor vehicle work. It normally takes 3 years to train as a mechanic. Colleges can often help you to find an employer.
Reading College also offers a flexible learning course in motor vehicle work. This involves going to college for 1 evening a week and studying at home. You can begin this course at any time of the year. (Other courses begin in September.)
Adults need to pay their own course fees or be funded by their employer. Course fees are about £300 to £450 a year. There may also be extra costs for materials and exam fees. Check current college prospectuses for details.
You do not usually need qualifications to enter courses, but you may need to pass a college or apprenticeship assessment.
Modern apprenticeships are another way of training in the motor trade. They give you the opportunity of earning while you learn. Apprenticeships normally last about 1 to 3 years and trainees need to complete them by their 25th birthday. So, you can be no older than about 22 to 24 when you begin training. Training is a combination of work-based tuition and experience and off-site assessments carried out by industry approved assessors.

What happens if I can’t find an employer?

If you can’t find an employer or if you want to do a course before you find work, you can do full-time courses at Reading College, East Berkshire College, Newbury College and Bracknell and Wokingham College. The courses last for 1 or 2 years, depending on the college. The courses last for 1 year and lead to employment or further study.

What about if I am unemployed?

You can get employment or college training through the New Deal programme. East Berkshire College offers New Deal training in motor vehicle work. Work Based Learning for Adults is also available for people, normally 25 or over, who have been unemployed for at least 6 months. (You can enter the programme if you have been unemployed for less than 6 months if you meet certain criteria, for example if you have a disability, if you’re a lone parent or if you have left the armed services.) The programme includes job-focused training. New Deal personal advisers at the Jobcentre can tell you about the training programmes that are open to you. What if I can’t get to college? Distance learning courses are available, but you also need to do practical training to become skilled. These courses can be a way of showing your interest in and knowledge of motor mechanics.

So how do I find an employer?

Contact us! It is always a good idea to have found out as much as you can about the work and show that you have the qualities and skills they are looking for. It may help to have done one of the basic vehicle maintenance courses that are on offer at local colleges. Reading College, Newbury College and Bracknell and Wokingham College all run these courses. They vary in length between 2 weeks and 12 weeks, either 1 evening a week or on Saturday daytimes. Another way into the work is to start with semi-skilled work, like tyre or exhaust fitting, and work your way up.

Colleges

East Berkshire College
Station Road
Langley SL3 8BY
Telephone: 0800 923 0423
Web: www.eastberks.ac.uk

Newbury College
Monks Lane
Newbury RG14 7TD
Telephone: 01635 845000
web: www.newbury-college.ac.uk

Reading College and School of Arts and Design
Crescent Road
Reading RG1 5RQ
Telephone: 0800 371 434
Web: www.reading-college.ac.uk

The above information has been compiled from various sources including Nextstep berkshire