Truck and trailer service provider TIP Group is launching a brand new academy this autumn which will train candidates to become TIP certified trailer mechanics in nine months.

Trainees will be paid a starting salary of £25,000 to £29,000, depending on experience and location, with a salary commitment of up to £31,000 upon successful completion of the training.

The launch of TIP's UK Mechanic Academy, which is located in Nuneaton, is part of a wider international roll out which will see the company open another five training schools in Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

TIP Group is hailing the academy as the first of its kind in the transport industry, with trainees becoming TIP certified trailer mechanics in nine months instead of the standard three to four years for heavy vehicle certification.

Although the academy is based at TIP’s Nuneaton branch, succesfull applicants will ultimately be based at TIP’s branches in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Southampton, Nuneaton and Lichfield.

TIP Group said it is looking for candidates who are "passionate" about pursuing a technician career in the transportation industry.

The program covers a wide range of topics, including trailer maintenance, diagnostics, repair and safety. Trainees will also receive practical training at TIP's state-of-the-art facilities, working on real trailers under the guidance of experienced mechanic mentors.

The course, which combines instructor-lead, e-learning and hands-on training, will be limited to between eight to twelve trainees per class.

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Those that graduate from the TIP Mechanic Academy will also have access to further training and advancement within the organisation, either as a workshop supervisor, manager, or technician.

Successful trainees will also be offered the opportunity to join the annual global Mechanic Team Competition, where the talent and expertise of mechanics are celebrated and rewarded, with finals being held in Valencia.

Hiske Damhuis, chief human resource officer, said: “Mechanics are the unsung heroes of our industry, and we rely on them to serve our customers and keep their fleet on the road.

"The TIP Mechanic Academy is a great opportunity to attract new talent, and the fast track learning ensures trainees get to put their new knowledge into practice in just nine months and receive remuneration as if they graduated from a four-year education program.”

As well as receiving a starting salary of £25,000 to £29,000, depending on experience and location, with a salary commitment of up to £31,000 upon successful completion of the training, trainees will also receive a comprehensive toolbox worth over £1,000.

Other benefits of joining the TIP Mechanic Academy include 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the flexibility to buy or sell holidays, healthcare insurance, a group personal pension scheme, life assurance, group income protection, an employee assistance programme, long service awards, and a welcome bonus.

Applications for the TIP Mechanic Academy are now open, and the program will commence in autumn 2023.

For more information on the program and how to apply, please visit www.tip-group.com/en-gb/mechanics.