Arnold Clark and The Prince’s Trust are celebrating five years of helping young people make their first steps in the motor trade through their joint 'Get into car mechanics' programme with all eight of this year’s graduates securing apprenticeships with the AM100 top-10 dealer group.

Five years ago, Arnold Clark and The Prince’s Trust Scotland, began the partnership, establishing a vocational course designed to give young people the skills and confidence to find work in the industry.

To date, the programme has resulted in 98% of the students being offered employment at an Arnold Clark dealership.

This year, eight students were welcomed onto the course, hosted at Arnold Clark’s purpose-built training centre, GTG Glasgow, to receive their initial car mechanics training. This included learning about basic vehicle maintenance, tyre fitting, valeting and the intricate attention to detail that is needed to be a precise mechanic.

All eight of the young people have since been offered apprenticeships at their local Arnold Clark service department. They are pictured below with dealer group managing director Eddie Hawthorne.

Sir Arnold Clark, chairman of the Arnold Clark Group, said: “Yet another group of ambitious and hard working young people have passed through the 'Get into car mechanics' programme and have impressed me incredibly.

“I am delighted to offer each and every one of them an apprenticeship with Arnold Clark. From there, they will build upon the basic skills that they have learned at GTG Glasgow and, hopefully, go on to be fully qualified mechanics.

“I strongly believe in having a hands-on approach to recruiting staff. By furnishing the students with the basics needed to become a great mechanic they can go forth and build upon these. Hopefully these students will have a fulfilling career with Arnold Clark.”

Among the young people who jumped at the chance to get to grips with car mechanics was Nicole Gallagher.

She said:“The programme couldn’t have come at a better time. The Prince’s Trust has been amazing.  I wake up before my alarm, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the job. It doesn’t even feel like work.

“The best part about the course was proving that to myself and everybody that doubted me — girls can do it too. It is not just a male dominated environment.

"I have thought about starting my own business, an all female garage. I might even consider management in the future. It’s a huge opportunity at Arnold Clark and an honour to work there.”

'Get into car mechanics' was funded by Arnold Clark, the Wood Family Trust, European Social Fund, Glasgow City Council and East Dunbartonshire Council.

For further information on the 'Get into car mechanics' programme, or other courses offered by GTG Training, visit www.gtg.co.uk.

For information on the wide range of Prince’s Trust Get into programmes visit www.princes-trust.org.uk.