Update: Following government decision the YA programme came to a close at the end of Cohort 7, July 2012. Have you seen AutoStart? The new automotive based vocational training programme designed for learners in school who are aged 14-16.
Career Opportunities
It is important to keep your career options open. You will not be required to join the automotive industry at the end of the programme. This will be up to you. On the other hand if you liked what you saw this may be what you want to do. With a Young Apprenticeship behind you, you can choose the next step in education and training that’s right for you. You could decide to go onto an Apprenticeship programme or the fast track route to an Advanced Apprenticeship in the technical areas of the motor industry. Or you may decide to stay on at school and take a more academic route.
The motor industry includes a wide range of choices. For example, you could become employed in the retail side of the industry where you could be selling cars, lorries, vans or motorcycles. Then you could be highly trained technicians who maintains these vehicles in order to keep them safe and in working order. You might work in the roadside assistance and vehicle recovery side of the industry where you help motorists who break down or rescue vehicles from the roadside. You could work in the rental and leasing sector helping people that want to rent a vehicle or lease a number of vehicles for a successful business. You could train to work in the formula one sports sector where you are involved in the design and maintenance of highly technical racing machines. As you become experienced, you can develop your career by moving into a management role or by adding additional areas of expertise to your job by training to become an MOT tester for example. There are loads of opportunities and different routes in the industry that can develop a successful career.
If none of these options appeal to you, you can follow other routes of learning. You will have followed the requirements of the National Curriculum so you could continue your studies full-time, either at school, college or with a training provider on a programme outside of the motor industry, or you could combine training and work. Whichever route you choose, you can build on it further by taking a degree.
What you will learn
As well as being assessed on your core subjects, you will be working towards a vocational qualification related to the motor industry at level 2. These level two qualifications are at the same level as GCSE grades A*-C and all the qualifications are recognised by employers, colleges, training providers and universities throughout England.
You will learn about how cars are maintained and why this is important so that cars are safe to drive. You will learn what it is like to work in the automotive industry and you will gain an insight into all the different jobs available in the industry. As you follow the programme you will also develop some essential skills that are needed to be successful at work and many young people tell us that they can now see why they have to study areas covered in their core subjects. They begin to see the relevance of what they are learning back at school. They can see how some of the maths they have to do is used in the workplace.