A college in Derby has praised its links with a local car dealership for offering career insights for the students.
Derby College has been working with dealer Parkway VW since 2012 to offer an opportunity for pupils wishing to enter the motor trade industry to gain valuable experience. As part of a new motor vehicle vocational course, the college has been arranging for year-nine students to see all aspects of the business, from sales to servicing and repairs.
Entering into partnerships with nearby schools can be worthwhile practice for car dealerships as it can give them access to a good pool of bright, young talent. However, the businesses must remember that having young employees could carry implications for their motor trade insurance policy – specifically, it will prove difficult to name anyone under the age of 21 on a road risks insurance policy should they need to drive the company’s vehicles on a day-to-day basis.
College tutor Matthew Curtis, team leader of its motor vehicle department, has told the Derby Telegraph that he was delighted to be working with Parkway VW. He said: "This is an excellent example of how businesses and colleges should be working together.
“We greatly value the input employers such as Parkway VW are giving us to ensure that we are providing the skills that employers need.”
Kevin Gamble, after-sales manager at Parkway VW, added: "I was approached by Derby College about working together. We began by offering work placements and the relationship has grown since then.
"My aim is to find the next great car technician. Car diagnostics are all to do with computers and that is what these youngsters have been brought up with."
