Sapphire apprentice technicians (5)

Eight aspiring technicians are set to begin their apprenticeships at Sapphire Vehicle Services this month.

The eight candidates make up the latest intake onto the Derbyshire-based company’s apprenticeship scheme which was launched two years ago.

Sapphire Vehicle Services, which maintains a range of large commercial vehicle operator’s fleets, began training its own apprentices two years ago.

The eight members of the first intake are now in the final stretch of their three-year courses, and set to start their careers as fully trained Sapphire truck and van technicians. Eight more, who joined the scheme in 2020, have just begun their second years, with the latest cohort of eight starting this month.

Group operations manager Dave Williams said setting up and running its own, independent apprenticeship programme has required significant outlay by Sapphire Vehicle Services, but added that the company considered the cost was completely justified by the results.

He said: “These apprentices are our stars of the future and by giving them the best possible training now, at the beginning of their careers, we can help ensure they become highly valued and productive members of our workshop teams, for many years to come. Growing our own will also make us better able to continue providing the exacting standards of customer service upon which we’ve built our success, going forward.”

Sapphire apprentices training includes classroom sessions and time spent in the workshop, leading to a nationally recognised NVQ Level 3 qualification in Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair. Applicants vying to get on the course have to go through a rigorous selection process which includes interviews, aptitude tests and assessments of basic maths and English.

Williams said: “Candidates come to us from different backgrounds – some straight from school or college, others with a few years of work behind them, and not all with experience of the vehicle trade.

Read more

“Far more important is a positive approach and attitude, and a determination to learn and develop the skills that will equip them to start a rewarding career with good prospects.

“We impress upon our young apprentices that we’re not just training them to be qualified technicians, but hopefully also to be the senior managers of the future.”

Among those now working their way through the scheme are Rhys Day and Ayden West, both of whom have combined hands-on experience at Sapphire’s Basingstoke depot with blocks spent at Stephenson College, near Coalville in Leicestershire.

Day, 20, who studied engineering at college, said: “This apprenticeship scheme is everything I was looking for. The training includes a great mix of classroom learning and opportunities to actually get your hands on engines, gearboxes and the like in a real workshop.

“We’ve been very well looked after throughout, with accommodation provided while we were at Stephenson College and supportive mentoring from senior colleagues. I’m now looking forward to graduating and continuing my journey as a qualified truck technician.”

West, also 20, is in the second year of his course and had previously studied light vehicle mechanics at college. He said: “It’s a fantastic scheme, with structured development and a plan of targets to aim for, and great support from teachers at the college and qualified colleagues in the workshop.

Williams said: “Both Ayden and Rhys are great ambassadors for our apprenticeship scheme. They’ve worked very hard and are now nearing the time when, assuming all goes well, their efforts will be rewarded with qualification and full-time positions with a company that’s really going places.

“They are a great example to the younger apprentices on the programme and can be very proud of what they’ve achieved so far.”

Topics