New mechanic apprenticeship aims to plug skills gap

Our transport team is launching its own vehicle mechanic apprenticeship scheme to help boost recruitment and tackle an industry-wide skills gap.

The three-and-a-half year advanced apprenticeship will provide a mix of in-house transport workshop experience with classroom learning and is being provided in association with external industry trainers.

As well as working alongside experienced qualified mechanics, apprentices will have periods of study at technical colleges, ultimately working to achieve a Level 3 Qualification in Light Vehicle Mechanics.

Recruitment is underway for the apprentices who will start their training in September, and will be based at Bodmin, Cwmbran, Gloucester, Lincoln and Pontypridd.

Alun Hurst, seconded NGED Transport Manager, said: “Our new National Grid Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme will provide opportunities across the regions we serve for people with the ambition to be a vehicle mechanic.

“Recruits to our bespoke training programme will be working with one of the largest fleets in the UK and also one of the most diverse. The skills they develop with NGED will set them up for a life-long career in the transport industry.”

Across the regions, we have 33 transport workshops which support an industry-leading volume of electric vehicles, as well as a wide variety of other transport, including cranes, loaders, HGVs and trailers.

The apprenticeship scheme launch comes as the transport sector faces record vacancy rates for mechanics, according to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). Its data shows there are more than 23,000 vacancies, equivalent to 4% of the workforce.

The IMI predicts that by 2032 there will be a shortfall of 16,000 vehicle mechanics holding the qualifications required to safely work on electric vehicles. Alun added: “The launch of this advanced apprenticeship will boost our workforce resilience at a time when there is likely to be external market turbulence, while also providing first-class career opportunities for people.”

Details of the apprenticeship vacancies are available here.