Honda apprentices show their mettle at Hemel Hempstead dealership

16 September 2011

 

Having proven their technical skills and excelled in examinations, two Hemel Hempstead apprentices employed at Brayley Honda, on Two Waters Road, are now in charge of their own workshop ramps in at the dealership.

Having both gained work experience with Brayley Honda whilst still at school, before being accepted onto the three year Honda Apprenticeship Programme, eighteen year-old Danny Wishart and nineteen year-old Simon Edwards are now part of the four-strong technician team and contributing to the company’s impressive customer satisfaction performance.

Since joining Brayley Honda, the two apprentices have consistently achieved top scores in their technical studies at the Honda Institute in Colnbrook, near Slough. Simon Edwards has just completed his full apprenticeship at just 19, whilst Danny Wishart is now on his second year. Each apprentice is mentored by an experienced Honda technician in the workshop.

Commented Simon Edwards:

“My late grand-dad was a brilliant mechanic and I became interested in cars because of him. I hope to become as good as he was and maybe have my own garage one day. At Brayley Honda, I’m encouraged to do the best I can and am hoping to achieve my diagnostics qualification very soon.”

Having started his own career as a body repair apprentice, Victor Savage, Service Manager, Brayley Honda Hemel Hempstead is keen to support the ambitions of young people wanting to enter the retail motor industry. Brayley Honda Hemel has already offered 17 work experience placements this year to local schools, thanks to its affiliation with the Hertfordshire Careers Service.

Victor Savage, Service Manager, Brayley Honda Hemel Hempstead, said:

“Our business is about empowering people to do the best they can for our customers as well as for their own professional development. An Apprenticeship provides an excellent start to life in the motor trade and Danny and Simon have already shown they have what it takes to forge a great career for themselves, whilst making a valuable contribution to the company.”

Research has shown that companies investing in training are 2.5 times more likely to survive during an economic downturn or recession. In a nation-wide poll carried out by Populus, the overwhelming majority of employers (92%) felt that apprentices made a valuable contribution to the business within six months of them completing their apprenticeship or earlier.

The survey also found that businesses believed that investing in apprenticeships made them more competitive (80%), provided higher overall productivity (76%) and contributed to lower staff turnover (80%).
                                   
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PHOTO CAPTION:
Showing their mettle are Brayley Honda apprentices Danny Wishart (left) and Simon Edwards.