A Coleraine man is one of nine apprentices from Northern Ireland who are taking their first steps on an automotive career as they begin their training with Kwik Fit.

It is the first time in over 20 years that the UK’s leading automotive servicing and repair company has taken on apprentices in Northern Ireland.

The new apprenticeship programme comes after Kwik Fit opened a bespoke training facility alongside its new centre in Mallusk. The apprentices will spend time on both classroom and technical courses in the new training workshop, combined with e-learning modules and on-the-job training at Kwik Fit’s locations across Northern Ireland, from Coleraine to Portadown.

The apprentices are appointed into permanent roles with the two-year programme giving a structured mix to develop the right skills for a long-term career. The apprenticeships provide routes into both advanced technical and managerial careers and so offer the flexibility that many apprentices look for in their first role.

Ben Steele, 17, from Coleraine, is setting out on an automotive career with a Kwik Fit apprenticeship.

placeholder image — Ben Steele, 17, from Coleraine, is setting out on an automotive career with a Kwik Fit apprenticeship.

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Ben Steele, 17, from Coleraine is excited about the prospects the apprenticeship offers. He said: “It’s still very early days on the course but I’ve already learnt lots of new skills and I’m really enjoying being part of the team.

“I’ve always had a passion for cars and I was delighted to be offered a place on the programme, I think it will give me a great foundation for a long career.”

Neil Kirkpatrick, regional manager for Kwik Fit in Northern Ireland, said: “We have spent the last two years planning for a training facility in Northern Ireland and our new Mallusk centre has provided the perfect location.

The nine new Kwik Fit apprentices at the company's training centre in Mallusk. They are flanked by Neil Kirkpatrick, Kwik Fit regional manager (L), apprentice trainer and assessor Dasos Michaelides (2nd L), Ross Drakeford, Kwik Fit divisional trainer (2nd R) and Ian Andrew, CEO of the National Tyre Distributors Association (R)

"It’s fantastic to be able to welcome the first apprentices on to the programme. It’s obviously good for business to bring new recruits into the company, but it is also a measure of our confidence in the local talent.

"We look forward to seeing our apprentices develop and to welcoming many more people on to our programme.”

The programme is being run in partnership with the leading training provider Rutledge Recruitment and Training. Those interested in applying for future apprenticeship intakes will be able to do so via the careers section of the Kwik Fit website.