Brooke Weston Academy was delighted to welcome members of the team from Ford & Slater Corby, which included two former BWA students, to speak to our Year 11 engineering students about the DAF Trucks National Dealer Apprentice Programme; a government-approved scheme that combines hands-on workshop training with block release for college studies.

Ford & Slater is one of the largest DAF Trucks dealership groups in the UK and the apprenticeship programme gives apprentices the chance to work on some of the most modern, sophisticated trucks on the road. On course completion, apprentices will be recognised with an Advanced Apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, which will include VCQ Level 3 in Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.

As well as finding out about the apprenticeship programme, students were also set a STEM challenge to build a rubber band propelled car to see whose car went the furthest carrying the most weight. They also had the opportunity to look inside one of the DAF trucks that had been brought on site courtesy of Ford & Slater Corby.

Group Apprenticeship Manager Lee Sursham said, ‘Apprentices are employed by the dealership and work alongside qualified technicians in fully equipped workshops, and they are visited regularly by the Programme Assessor to ensure that training is effective.’

Apprenticeship training coordinator Jenna Brandon said, ‘The apprenticeship is an excellent opportunity for students who have ambitions to work in the motor industry as they are guaranteed employment with Ford & Slater on completion of their training.’

Former student Ben York who left BWA in 2019 and qualified as a Technician two years ago said, ‘The apprenticeship was the perfect opportunity for me as I enjoyed the hands-on experience, and now I’ve got two qualifications as well as full-time employment.’

Former student Miller Bagley, who is in his first year on the apprenticeship programme, said, ‘I have learnt so much in my first year and I enjoy the practical side of the course in the workshop alongside the qualified technicians. I also attend study sessions at Bristol City College five times a year as part of the apprenticeship.’

Design Technology Teacher, Gareth Van Wyk, said, ‘The event was a great success and enjoyed by our year 11 Engineering cohort. It was wonderful to see some of our past students come back and share their experiences and journey from Brooke into the engineering world and see how they have succeeded. Ben York was in my very first GCSE group that I taught, and I was extremely proud to see how well he is doing.’