Nick Hawkins attended a job fair organised by the MoD, Lyneham, where he learned about the MAN Military Transition Programme and is now working for dealer WG Davies, in Cardiff.
“There are a number of military vehicles supplied by MAN, so I do have some knowledge of them, but working in a commercial environment is very different,” says Hawkins.
“The training I had through the MAN Military Transition Programme has shown me how things differ. I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity and I am looking forward to developing my skills in the commercial world.”
MAN’s Trish Newman says the manufacturer decided to link up with the nearby Lyneham base, to help military personnel find new roles when leaving the service.
“This was our pilot project and we decided we would take four candidates: after a week in Swindon, two were sent to MAN Bristol and two to WG Davies in Cardiff,” she explains.
“They were each awarded their irtec qualification and then they were learning about working as a technician in a commercial market including how to fill in job cards, standard repair times, charging and liaising with customers, which is completely different to their military experience, where they have experienced MAN’s technical and diagnostics systems in a very practical situation.”