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Back to school
Page 38
Page 39
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Renault Trucks UK's apprentice training programme, overseen by the RAC, is ensuring a steady flow of top-quality HGV technicians, electricians, aftermarket specialists and even sales executives.
Tucked away at the back of a large secondary school in the town of Kirkby-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, there is a training centre for apprentice truck mechanics.
Inside is an immaculate workshop hosting a brand-new Midlum truck training vehicle and engine for young recruits to work on — under the watchful guidance of experienced trainers.
There is also a modern classroom with whiteboard and a laptop that helps to provide theory training in a fun and interactive way. It is also where written tests on technical issues to do with trucks take place.
In addition, there is a room full of computers, where students can research information and study in peace.
This is one of the centres — the others are in Warrington and Dunstable — in which RAC Training has run the apprentice programme for Renault Trucks UK since July 2007 Brian Burns, training and development manager, Renault Trucks UK, says his company is "absolutely delighted" with the way the RAC has managed its programme so far, following what he describes as "disappointing" experiences with other training providers.
He adds: "The decision to choose the RAC was based on its consistently high performance levels, a reputation for delivering quality training to manufacturers and its strategic objectives and values being aligned to that of Renault Trucks. The RAC has an excellent track record in dealer technician and apprentice training, and it is also able to offer regional training, which is a great benefit to our dealer network.
"I have to say that the RAC has not only listened very hard to what we want, but also structured the programme well, with an amazing attention to detail.
"You only have to look around and see these first-class facilities to see what a good environment this is for our apprentices to learn in."
The RAC's training arm has also had experience running training programmes for manufacturers such as LDV, Hyundai and Kia.
Andy Kemp, apprentice programme manager, training solutions, at the RAC is the man responsible for delivering a quality apprentice training scheme for Renault Trucks. He comes from a haulage family and was once a driver himself.
Close working relationship -Having a close working relationship with Renault
Trucks is vital to us, and we have been very impressed with the enthusiasm of Brian [Bums] and the people in the Renault Trucks dealer network',"he says.
"However, at the end of the day, it's up to the young people on the scheme to conic here to learn and grab the opportunity to develop an excellent career for themselves'?
Each apprentice is given practical employment at a Renault Trucks dealership. At the same time, they will receive six weeks of annual training, in blocks of one week, at either Ashfield, Warn ngton or Dunstable over the three-year training period.
The RAC is responsible for interviewing and selecting applicants, training, reporting, on-site visits and assessments, as well as liaising with managers.
In the first year, the programme had delivered 30 new apprentices, posting an 81% retention and 88% qualification success rate. By 2008/09, the RAC had recruited another 30 apprentices and the organisation says it is well on the way to achieving an "industry leading qualification success rate':
Stuart Hancock. afterniarket manager, Renault Trucks, who is based at RH Commercial Vehicles in Nottingham, has five apprentices enrolled on the scheme.
He says: "The RAC is demanding of the dealers, hut has helped us raise our standards, and there has been the concept of partnership from the very beginning.
"Andy is always talking to us, looking at new ways the training can be improved, but the really positive thing is that we now have a steady stream of top-quality trained youngsters coming through': Gerry Potter, dealer principal, MV Trucks, which is based in Maidstone, Kent, also has five people on the programme, training to be technicians as well as parts specialists.
He explains: "Andy Kemp talks the language and can relate to the guys, he is honest, upfront and very easy to deal with. It is a very professionally run operation and we have been very impressed with it so fart' Burns says the scheme is currently mainly aimed at dealerships, hut Renault Trucks would eventually like to tailor it for individual hauliers who run their own in-house garages. "It could grow much bigger" he adds "We are very pleased with the number of recruits we have attracted so far, from all over the UK. The apprentice programme is very close to our heart and we are very proud of it." •