PEUGEOT aims to have an apprentice in every Dealership by the end of 2016.

• PEUGEOT aims to have an apprentice in every Dealership by the end of 2016
• The PSA Academy currently supports over 300 apprentices
• Training positions are in Service, Sales, Parts, Customer Service and Business Administration

PEUGEOT UK and the PSA Academy, located in Coventry, are encouraging young people into the automotive industry with an aim for all UK Dealerships to have an apprentice by the end of 2016. 

The PSA Academy Apprenticeship programme was set up as a scheme to get younger people in education interested in joining the automotive industry and gaining practical experience in their chosen fields of work. 

By the end of 2015, the Academy had over 300 apprentices on the programme for Peugeot, Citroёn and DS brand Dealerships. For 2016, the aim of the Academy is to have at least one apprentice based in all PEUGEOT Dealerships in the UK, to support those pursuing a career in the motor trade.

The Apprenticeship programme includes positions in Service, Sales, Parts, Customer Service and Business Administration and is eligible for applicants aged between 16-18 who have achieved a GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English.

To recruit an apprentice, PEUGEOT Dealerships have to establish the requirement for an apprentice with the Academy in one of the five available areas in the business. The Academy will arrange for the position to be advertised online as part of the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service for applicants to apply. Most vacancies will be posted for 7-21 days before candidates are selected by the Dealership for interview.   

PEUGEOT apprenticeships run for a varying amount of time, dependant on the position. Sales, Customer Service and Business Administration are for 27 months, Parts for 28 months while Service requires 36 months on-the-job learning. At the end of each apprenticeship term, apprentices will achieve a Level 2 NVQ and Technical certificate. From there, they will go on to achieve their Level 3 accreditation.

Martin Hamill, Academy Director, says: “While other manufacturers offer similar schemes, PEUGEOT realises the importance of sourcing young talent who are keen to learn new skills and start a career within our Dealerships. This is why we want to ensure all Dealers have an apprentice working in the team as part of the Academy Apprenticeship programme.

“Apprentices will be employed by a franchised Dealer local to them and trained at one of PEUGEOT’s dedicated training facilities, while working towards their NVQ in a chosen specialism.  We hope that programmes like the Academy Apprenticeship will encourage more young people into apprenticeships, realising the benefits that come with learning skills on the job and offering a feasible alternative to Further/Higher Education.”