Newly Qualified Apprentices Reflect on their Apprenticeship Experience at JCT600
Apprenticeships are more than just training; they’re the foundation of a long-term career. We’re proud to spotlight two recently qualified colleagues at JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield. Each of them have successfully completed their apprenticeship and stepped into full-time roles. Follow along to hear more about their journey and more insight into their roles as apprentices.
Shannon's Journey as a Service Advisor Apprentice
Shannon joined us in February 2024 as a Service Advisor apprentice. After interviewing a number of candidates, she was chosen because of her outgoing personality and friendly manner. She made a strong impression from day one. During her interview, Shannon let us know she has Autism, various learning difficulties, and some health conditions. With this in mind, we made the decision to offer her the apprenticeship and immediately began planning how best to support her journey with us.
From the start, we sat down together and mapped out her apprenticeship, looking ahead at any potential challenges and how we could accommodate her needs. This included arranging travel support to and from work and training at the Volkswagen National Learning Centre, with huge help from her parents. We also offered additional learning aids to support her with reading and writing.
Partway through her apprenticeship, Shannon stepped up to cover the front desk while a colleague was on maternity leave. a responsibility she handled with professionalism and confidence. As of 26th June, she is now officially an Accredited Service Advisor, having passed with three out of three distinctions. The team at JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield are so proud of her and how she has handled the apprentice program.
What's your name and your current role at JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield?
Hi, my name is Shannon. I’m at JCT600 at Volkswagen, and I’m a Service Advisor at Wakefield.
Which apprenticeship course did you complete?
I completed the Volkswagen apprenticeship. I worked here in Wakefield, and then I went to do the full accreditation in Milton Keynes at Volkswagen.
What made you want to choose an apprenticeship?
I chose an apprenticeship because, throughout being a teenager, I wanted to go to university. I went to university for three years, but afterwards, I was trying to find a job and couldn’t find anything. I was into retail, and I went on Indeed, and I found that JCT600 wanted a Service Advisor. I had never done an apprenticeship before, so I thought I'd challenge myself, and then after I did my apprenticeship, I felt like I fitted in.
How did JCT600 support you through your apprenticeship journey?
The whole JCT600 team gave me so much support in my apprenticeship. I was born with autism, so that was always going to be a challenge throughout the years of my life, but JCT600 never made me feel like I didn’t belong here.
When I joined JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield, Tristan (my Service Manager) and I had a good chat about how we could work together. I showed him how I worked, and he showed me how he worked, as well as working with the wider team. It was clear how much help and support there was - it just felt like a good, supportive place.
Secondly, Dawn (my fellow Service Advisor), who sits next to me, she's like my really good friend - I want to be like her one day. She shows me how to be powerful, confident, and vulnerable, to show people that we care – it's great for me to see how she works and handles situations as well.
Then Claire (Service Front of Desk Manager), she’s always been so supportive of my journey, she’s like my best friend in the workplace. She’s the one who I can speak to about anything, who I can come to even to just get my mind off if I’m stressed or just need to have a calm five minutes.
Lastly, Andy Lane, Head of Business, he's given me all the equipment and support I need on my apprenticeship journey. He’s pushed me through so many challenges, and I can just see myself improving more and more under his guidance.
Not only that, but the customers have helped me too. They’ve taught me how they want to be treated, especially when talking about their car that’s being worked on. My role teaches me how to best support people when they need advice. I’ve learned from how they react, and it helps me react as well. No matter how they’re feeling, whether they’re happy or sad, I want to show them that I’m really supportive and that I’m trying my best for them.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about an apprenticeship at JCT600?
The advice I would give to people looking to start an apprenticeship with JCT600 is to challenge yourself. There’s no point in just living without challenging yourself - it’s not exciting if you do. If you challenge yourself, you’ll see a bigger future and more excitement. It’s okay to be scared. Just see how it goes; you can always go back if you need to. But challenge yourself in everything, whether it’s your work ways or just challenging yourself to be the better person you want to be.
Jacob's Journey as a Service Technician Apprentice
Jacob joined JCT600 Wakefield in March 2024 as an Apprentice Service Technician, coming from a completely different dealership and brand where he had been working with SEAT vehicles. When Jacob transferred over, we worked to ensure that all elements of his apprenticeship were properly transitioned to us. It became clear that Jacob wasn’t quite where he needed to be in his apprenticeship, but I knew we could get him there.
He explained that in his previous role, he had limited exposure to the full range of tasks and learning opportunities required for his apprenticeship. Determined to help him succeed, the team at JCT600 worked closely with Jacob to identify the gaps in his training and support him through a more structured development plan.
Through his own commitment and with the support of the team, Jacob caught up quickly and made strong progress. He has now received a pass as his final apprenticeship result, and we’re proud of everything he has achieved since joining us.
What's your name and your current role at JCT600 Volkswagen Wakefield?
Hi, I'm Jacob, and I'm a Vehicle Technician at JCT600 Wakefield.
Which apprenticeship course did you complete?
The apprenticeship I completed was a Level 3 Motor Vehicle Technician.
How did JCT600 support you throughout your apprenticeship journey?
JCT600 have supported me during my apprenticeship journey by giving me additional time to complete my online training; without this, I wouldn’t have been able to pass.
You switched to JCT600 mid-way through your apprenticeship - did you experience any challenges with that, and how did you overcome them?
I switched to JCT600 mid-way through my apprenticeship. This was a challenging move as it was from brand to brand, so I quickly had to learn new things. However, all the technicians here helped me through my journey.
What's the biggest takeaway from your apprenticeship experience?
The biggest takeaway from my apprenticeship was the knowledge I have gained from basic oil changes to more advanced jobs, such as cambelt changes. This has helped me move on to the next step.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship at JCT600 to others? Why?
I would recommend an apprenticeship with JCT600 because I have received great support from all my colleagues from start to finish.
Life at JCT600 as an apprentice means learning, growing, and building a strong foundation for the future. If you’re ready to start your career journey and develop skills in a supportive environment, an apprenticeship with JCT600 could be the right fit for you.
How to Apply?
Interested in joining our apprenticeship programme? Visit our apprenticeship vacancies page to explore all the current apprenticeship roles we have available.
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