Schools Applaud New Job Offer And Training Package for Kids
Schools Applaud New Job Offer And Training Package for Kids
Who Love Cars
STARTS
Auckland teachers are applauding a new automotive academy that not only offers school leavers the chance to develop a can-do attitude, it offers a job to all those who graduate.
The Auto Super Shoppes Academy starts its first course late July, offering a partial scholarship worth $3000 to those who take up one of the 15 placements. The course has a strong focus on punctuality, accountability and willingness to work hard - soft skills that employers are looking for on top of workshop competencies, like servicing a car from day one.
If students make the grade, they will be offered a job within the Auto Super Shoppes 80+ member and affiliate provider network. This includes industry giants such as BNT, Repco and Century Batteries.
General Manager Kellie Tremayne and Head Tutor Rob Humphreys have been busy taking this message to Auckland schools. They have received a warm, relieved welcome from educators who are losing faith in sending school leavers to government funded technical institutes for automotive courses. This loss of faith from teachers is echoed in industry claims that apprentices are coming out with a poor attitude and little or no capacity to roll their sleeves up and service a car.
Northcote
College Deputy Principal, Mr Sam McNaughton, is thrilled to
see a quality course that is prepared to educate kids as
well as offer them a job. He is one of several educators,
career counsellors, gateway co-ordinators, automotive
technology and engineering teachers that Tremayne and
Humphreys have presented to in the last month.
The North
Shore DP heard about the Academy some time ago when school
and community-minded co-founder and Director Geoff Harper
consulted him about course content. The long-time mechanic
has a history of finding jobs for their school
leavers.
Mr McNaughton says the claims that standard
‘tech’ pre-trade automotive courses are falling behind
are founded.
“I don’t know the background but for
whatever reason, some recent course offerings don’t seem
to be matching up with what the industry wants in our
area.
“The Auto Super Shoppes Academy will have to turn
out graduates who are well trained and prepared to do well,
and this is in part because they have attached their premium
business name to it. But what I am especially pleased about
with this course is that they are prepared to make all
graduates a job offer in the industry. That is what really
sets them apart from other courses.”
Mrs Tremayne, a
past disciplinary committee member on the Whangaparaoa
College Board of Trustees, adds it is vital that teachers
know there is now a high-quality career and job
pathway available for students who are passionate about
cars.
“If they work hard they have a very good chance
of passing and getting the job offer that so many graduates
crave.”
Tremayne agrees that when compared with
status quo courses, their Academy costs reflect a private
tuition model. But with four $2000 partial scholarships
available at each intake, and the option of competitive
finance to pay back fees over 12-24 months, it is still
within reach of most applicants.
“Where students opt
for financing, repayments can be deferred for three months;
graduating students will be in full time employment so
paying back study fees as a small portion of their income is
entirely possible” she says.
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