S&B Automotive Academy is celebrating record-breaking success with its automotive apprentices as they post the best results in its 42-year history.
An average success rate of 87% was recorded across both advanced and intermediate apprenticeships in the 2012/2013 academic year, a four percent increase year-on-year and 15 percent above the average national success rate of 72 percent for the automotive sector.
All learners working towards apprenticeships in vehicle body and paint achieved 100% success, as did those on the advanced apprenticeship in vehicle parts.
With over 400 apprentices in training and the recruitment of 90 new full-time learners on Level 2 intermediate light vehicle and body and paint programmes, the academy has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent training providers.
Jon Winter, S&B’s Chief Executive, said: “The bar had been set very high last year but S&B has yet again managed to improve and take its success rates to another level. We are delighted at the achievement of our apprentices who have shown significant effort and determination to develop their skills and careers. These results are also reflective of the pastoral care that the apprentices receive both in the workplace and at the academy.”
S&B has recently secured a new national apprenticeship in partnership with one of the UK’s largest passenger transport companies, Go-Ahead Group plc, starting with 10 bus and coach intermediate Level 2 apprentices, based at the passenger transport company’s London and Plymouth depots. In addition, the academy has been appointed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to manage the apprenticeship for four new vehicle inspection technicians.
Some 60 businesses were added to S&B’s client list in the past year, with a target for 80 over the next 12 months. There has also been significant interest in apprenticeships from automotive businesses in Wales as the Welsh Assembly has said it will fund an apprentice’s salary in the first six months of employment.
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