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Home Wessex DAF News DAF Trucks Named as Top Apprenticeship Employer

DAF Trucks has joined an elite group of UK companies and organisations supporting the provision of apprenticeships for young people.
 

The UK’s leading truck maker has just become one of the top 100 ‘Apprenticeship Employers’ under a joint initiative by the National Apprenticeship Service and City & Guilds to recognise exceptional apprentice training schemes.



DAF Trucks received the accolade for its highly-acclaimed National Dealer Apprentice Programme. Established in 1995, this three year programme, which is managed by Skillnet, is now the largest in the UK specialising in heavy goods vehicle repair and maintenance skills. It combines hands-on workshop training with periods of residential study and practical training at the DAF Trucks Centre of Learning at the City of Bristol College.

To date over 1,000 young people employed in DAF truck dealerships across the UK have gone through the programme. On completion each student emerges with an Advanced Apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair. This includes an NVQ at level 3, a Heavy Vehicle Technical Certificate and key skills in numeracy, communication and information technology.

Students also satisfy several elements of the DAF Master Technician programme run at the company’s training centre at Thame in Oxfordshire, including basic electrics and brakes and the use of the Davie XD diagnostic tool.

Further study can lead to Level 4 of the Institute of the Motor Industry Certificate of Management. This includes an introduction to supervisory skills along with some legal and financial aspects of workshop operation and is a natural progression towards foreman or service manager status.

Tony Shepherd, After Sales Services Manager at DAF Trucks, said: “The DAF National Dealer Apprentice Programme has become the UK benchmark for the training of commercial vehicle technicians.

“The programme has undoubtedly raised the level of skill right across the DAF dealer network and has provided excellent careers for hundreds of young people. We are delighted that it has been recognised in this way. It’s a tribute to the commitment to the programme by Skillnet, City of Bristol College and the DAF dealer network.”