The new Heritage Engineering Technician Apprenticeship in classic vehicle coachbuilding combines old-school skills with cutting-edge technology. Working with highly specialist teams, apprentices will be taught about the history and development of materials and vehicle construction, hand skills, design and pattern development while working with composite materials, welding, fabrication including bending, folding, creating jigs and frames, and the removal and replacement of components.
Twelve places on this apprenticeship are available through Tiger Trailers and the resulting Heritage Engineering Technician (HET) Level 3 Apprenticeship qualification awarded by HSA at the end of the 42-month course is a nationally recognised certification. Employment with Tiger Trailers in a skilled role is guaranteed to apprentices graduating from the programme, with the prospect of a long-term career with excellent progression opportunities, including managerial roles, the company said.
Abigail Lee, HR manager at Tiger Trailers, says: “We are extremely proud to be able to offer this unique, exciting and highly specialised new apprenticeship, which gives the next generation of trailer coachbuilders an incomparable opportunity to learn at iconic sites like Bicester Heritage and Brooklands while surrounded by classic vehicles of all sizes right up to airplanes including Concorde.”
A starting salary from £12,506 is offered and the apprenticeship is delivered on a block release basis, with enrolees attending HSA’s academy at Brooklands in Surrey on average every 5 weeks for a 5-day block of training running from Monday to Friday. The remaining 80% of the time is spent working in Tiger Trailers’ 168,000 sq. ft, state-of-the-art and modern trailer manufacturing facility in Cheshire, with the firm covering accommodation and travel costs during training.
Those interested in enrolling on this unique opportunity can obtain more information from Tiger Trailers’ website, which directs applicants to the government’s ‘find an apprenticeship’ service where they can formally apply. Applications close in early September, with an anticipated course start date of October.
John Pitchforth, Heritage Skills Academy’s Managing Director, comments: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Tiger on this new apprenticeship program. Teaching new and old coachbuilding skills is so important to keeping the UK industry at the forefront of design and build. The Tiger apprenticeship offers excellent career prospects for a long and interesting career with a world class company.”
Heritage Skills Academy was founded by John and Janice Pitchforth in 2015 to meet a growing need for a younger generation in the Heritage Industry and works with employers, apprentices, and industry leaders to train the next generation of heritage engineers and promote exciting opportunities within the heritage industry, meeting the needs of employers through the organisation’s apprenticeships.