TrustFord has opened applications for its 2019 apprentice intake, with 91 opportunities across the group representing a second year of growth in apprentice recruitment.

The new positions will be available throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, with a huge variety of roles on offer, including technician, parts advisor, bodyshop technician, accounts executive and sales administrator.

The TrustFord apprenticeship provides on the job training over 18 months to three years, depending on the role, ensuring apprentices earn NVQ-level qualifications.

Opportunities are not limited to the short-term, with many apprentices offered a full time job at the end of their training.

TrustFord’s chairman and chief executive, Stuart Foulds, said: “A dynamic, talented workforce is essential if we are to remain at the forefront of an innovative automotive sector.

"Even when faced with a tough business climate, we will continue to invest in growing and retaining the best talent who can share in TrustFord’s business success.”

TrustFord has been growing its apprenticeship scheme for over 15 years, as part of its business commitment to growing and retaining the best industry talent.

This has helped it retain its place in the Sunday Times Best 25 Big Companies to Work For.

Next year will signal a significant milestone in this expansion, with roles available for the first time in Scotland.

Thanks to Ford’s new wholesale parts proposition, Parts Plus, TrustFord is opening additional centres in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, enabling a significant recruitment drive in these areas.

Jacob Loveday joined the Apprenticeship Scheme in June 2013 as a technician. Three years later he qualified and joined the Barnsley team full-time.

He said: “The programme got me to work with lots of different people from different parts of the team, learning a huge amount in the time I was training. It was the right scheme for me, and I’d say for anyone who’s interested in the industry.”

Aysha Ravat joined as an apprentice on the accounts team at TrustFord Huddersfield, and in 2018 she was a finalist for the Ford Apprentice of the Year and the TrustFord Apprentice of the Year.

She is now a permanent team member, working as an Accounts Assistant while studying for her AAT qualification.

She said: "My time as an apprentice at TrustFord helped me to recognise my potential and define what I want to achieve in the future.

"There’s a lot of flexibility to choose modules you’re interested in, so I could really expand my skills and understanding of how a business operates. It’s great to think about how far I’ve come and what I’ve achieved.”

Oli Ashplant joined TrustFord Guernsey as an apprentice service technician in 2014. He was crowned TrustFord Apprentice of the Year in 2018, and has since qualified and joined the team permanently.

"I've always been interested in how things work, and had a great time doing work experience and holiday work at TrustFord Guernsey while I was at school," he said.

"I applied for the Apprenticeship Scheme because I got the sense there was always interesting work coming through the door - which has definitely been the case.”